Six arrested in Anambra using sick people to beg alms

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested six suspects who allegedly hired sick persons to beg for alms from members of the public.

In a press statement on Thursday, the state police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed that the suspects were arrested in an uncompleted building at Isu village in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area.

Ikenga added that the police also recovered six mobile phones and N82,400 in denominations of N50, N100 and N200 notes.

He added that four persons, who appeared to be suffering from brain tumours, breast cancer, and other terminal illnesses, were retrieved from the scene and have been taken into custody.

The statement read, “A joint security team comprising police from Oba Divisional Police Headquarters and Anambra vigilante operatives on April 16, at 6.30 pm during a raid in an uncompleted building at Isu village, Oba arrested six suspects who allegedly hired sick persons to beg for alms from members of the public.

“The suspects are Doris Basil ‘f’ aged 28 years, Peter Ezedike ‘m’ aged 38 years, Susan Monday ‘f’ aged 27 years Ogechi Okoro ‘f’ aged 27 years, Solomon Sunday ‘m’ aged 29 years and Kenneth Achi ‘m’ aged 29 years.

“The operatives also recovered six mobile phones and N82,400 in denominations of N50, N100 and N200 notes and took in safe custody four ill persons from appearance suffering from brain tumour, breast cancer, and other terminal illnesses.

“The operatives also provided first aid for the sick persons and sought higher intervention for their treatment and safe return to their various homes.”

He added that following the development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, noted that Section 419 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act deals with obtaining property by pretence, also known as “419 fraud”.

“The CP noted that it is a felony that carries a potential penalty of three years imprisonment and expresses concern about the level of moral decay of individuals who take undue advantage of sick persons.

“He further directs the immediate interrogation of the relatives of those sick persons to ascertain their culpability.

“All the suspects would be charged to Court on conclusion of the investigations,” he added.