The Anambra Youth Volunteers have arrested over 80 suspected criminals in Upper Iweka, Onitsha, in the Onitsha South local government area of Anambra state.

The leader of the youth group, Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday

Upper Iweka is an area noted for high rates of crime, mainly armed robbery and touting.

Okpalaezeukwu, who is also the leader of another youth group, the Anambra Joint Enforcement Team (ANJET), said the suspects were arrested during a raid on suspected hideouts in the area to “smoke out” criminals terrorising the state.

He did not indicate when the suspects were arrested.

He said the raid was a joint operation between ANJET and the Anambra Youth Volunteers, and that it was in line with Governor Charles Soludo’s directive to the youths to ensure a “crime-free yuletide.”

He explained that the raid was in response to a viral WhatsApp voice note that surfaced a previous night which raised an alarm about suspected criminal activities in the area.

“Going forward, the Anambra Youth Volunteers in collaboration with the ANJET and other law enforcement agencies will continue to make Upper Iweka and its environs inhabitable for criminals,” he said.

The youth leader urged residents of the state to support Mr Soludo’s efforts to make the state “livable and prosperous”.

“We have deployed a team of local youth volunteers around the state to support law enforcement agencies with intelligence and enforcement where necessary,” Okpalaezeukwu added.

It is not clear, for now, if the suspects have been handed over to the police for investigations and prosecutions.

When contacted on Monday, the police spokesperson in Anambra state, Tochukwu Ikenga, said he was not aware of the arrests of the suspects.

“I don’t have any brief on the arrest of such suspects,” he said. (Premium Times