Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Five kidnap and robbery suspects are cooling their heels in Police custody after they were arrested for alleged involvement in criminal activities in various communities in Anambra State.
One of the gangs met their Waterloo when men of the Anambra State Police Command busted their hideout, an uncompleted building located along Oko Ufuma Expressway in Orumba North Local Government Area.
Ikengaonline learnt that the gang engaged the operatives in a gun duel before they were overpowered and escaped, baring one of them, Okechukwu Okpo aged 24, who was apprehended by the Police team.
Confirming the arrests, spokesperson of Anambra State Police command, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, said the Operatives recovered one locally fabricated pistol, two live cartridges and three plasma televisions.
He said, “Preliminary investigations showed that the gang were responsible for over twenty-five armed robbery, kidnapping, car-snatching incidents that have happened along Oko Ufuma, Uga, Amaokpala expressway, among others.”
Ikenga disclosed that Okechukwu had in a recent confession narrated that the gang carried out an attack in a hotel on August 13, 2022 at Ndikelionwu. He said “the gang raped a female staff of the hotel and made away with three televisions and other items.”
In the other development 20 years old Chukwubike Anieto and 36 years old Chukwuemerie Ike both from Agulu; and Chidera Muo, 25; and Chukwuma Isreal from Neni and Akwaeze respectively were nabbed by Policemen attached to Neni in conjunction with the local security, Friday.
Ikenga said “the team recovered one berretta pistol, three motorcycles, one axe and three machetes. He also said one police belt, one Sumec generator, thirteen different brands of phones and other incriminating items were recovered after a search in their house.”
He said the recoveries were made after an attack by the gang on a police constable along Umukabia Okofia village, Neni; and an attempt to rob a lady of her belonging along Okofia village, Neni.
Charging the operatives to sustain the tempo on weeding out criminal elements in the state, Commissioner of Police CP Echeng Echeng assured that the confidence repose in the police will not be taken for granted. He said the arrested suspects will be charged to court on the conclusion of the investigations.
