By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old man, identified as Chima Ogumba, in connection with the recovery of a pump-action gun and 50 live cartridges in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.

Disclosing this in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said that the suspect was arrested on Monday morning, August 17, 2026, by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, during an intelligence-led operation along Nkpor Road, Idemili North LGA.

He said that the operatives stormed the identified area following intelligence and conducted a search on Ogumba.

According to him, the search led to the recovery of one pump-action gun and 50 live cartridges from the suspect.

The statement added: “Ogumba was unable to give what the operatives considered a satisfactory and reasonable account of his possession of the firearm and ammunition.”

The Police spokesman noted that the recovery prompted the Police Command to commence investigation into the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s possession of the weapons, including their source and intended use.

He said the investigation would also seek to determine whether the recovered firearm and ammunition were connected to any existing or planned criminal operation.

“The arrest and recovery,” he said, “form part of the Command’s ongoing intelligence-led operations and targeted interventions aimed at identifying and disrupting criminal networks across the state.”

Meanwhile, CP Oji Ama has reiterated the Command’s commitment to proactive policing, intelligence gathering, targeted patrols and sustained tactical operations towards dismantling criminal networks and improving security across Anambra.

While investigation into the matter is still ongoing, the Command’s latest operation comes amid its continued emphasis on intelligence-led policing, with operatives increasingly relying on information-driven searches and targeted interventions to intercept suspected criminal activities.

The CP has consequently directed that the suspect be thoroughly investigated to establish his possible involvement in armed robbery and other criminal activities.