By Chizoba Njaka
The Anambra State Police Command has alerted residents to an emerging pattern in which motorcycles are allegedly being used to facilitate robbery and other criminal activities across the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on October 3, explaining that the alert followed recent incidents involving motorcycle users in different parts of the state.
According to him, a motorcycle rider was recently arrested during a stop-and-search operation in Nnewi and found in possession of a pistol. In a separate incident in Aguleri, a motorcycle rider was reportedly attacked and dispossessed of his motorcycle and other personal belongings, an incident which resulted in the death of the victim.
The command said preliminary observations suggest that criminal elements may be exploiting motorcycles to facilitate their movements and carry out robbery and other offences, particularly against unsuspecting members of the public and fellow motorcycle users.
The police also expressed concern that some motorcycle owners fail to properly register their motorcycles or maintain adequate ownership documents, noting that such lapses could make it difficult to identify, trace and recover motorcycles when stolen or used in criminal activities.
In response, the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, has directed all Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers to intensify sensitisation and community engagement with motorcycle riders’ associations, Presidents-General of communities, vigilante groups and other relevant stakeholders.
The engagements, according to the command, are aimed at strengthening community-based intelligence, improving motorcycle identification and documentation, enhancing information sharing and developing coordinated measures to prevent the use of motorcycles for criminal purposes.
The police therefore advised motorcycle owners and riders to ensure that their motorcycles are properly registered and that relevant ownership documents are readily available. Residents were also urged to report suspicious motorcycle movements, persons or activities to the nearest police station or through established emergency communication channels.
CP Oji Ama further called on motorcycle riders’ associations, community leaders and other stakeholders to cooperate with the police by providing credible and timely information that could assist in identifying and disrupting criminal elements, stressing that security remains a shared responsibility and urging Ndi Anambra to remain vigilant and avoid confronting suspected criminals themselves.
Chizoba Njaka is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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