THE Enugu State Police Command has arrested nine persons suspected to be members of armed robbery and kidnap gangs operating in the state.
Five of them that allegedly belong to an armed robbery gang were apprehended while planning a robbery operation in Enugu while the four suspected kidnappers were nabbed in their hideout after a gun duel with operatives of the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the state command, which left some of the suspects fatally injured.
Five of them that allegedly belong to an armed robbery gang were apprehended while planning a robbery operation in Enugu while the four suspected kidnappers were nabbed in their hideout after a gun duel with operatives of the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the state command, which left some of the suspects fatally injured.
According to a press release issued by the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, operatives of the Central Police Station, Enugu, through proactive measures, arrested the five robbery suspects before they could carry out their nefarious activity on Sunday.
He gave the names of the suspects as Ukwuome Michael of No 38 Agbanike Road Abakpa Nike, Enugu, Obi Raphael Onyedika of Uzodinma close New Haven extension Enugu, Michael Orji of Mgbo Village Ohaozara Onicha, Ebonyi State, Monday Degba of Mgbo Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and Chinedu Agbedo of Udi siding Enugu.
According to him, the policemen had a tip off that “the suspects were about carrying out a robbery operation with a coal city taxicab with number plate UWN 542 XA and fleet No 621 when the operatives swoop on them and upon thorough search of suspects and vehicle, a locally made pistol with three live cartridges concealed by the door side of the vehicle were discovered.”
The police spokesman said that the suspects are now helping the police in their investigations.
In a related development, Amaraizu said that operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command have arrested four members of a kidnap gang.
The suspects, who gave their names as Peter Uche, Chukwuemeka Aruejiofor, Sunday Joshua and Ndubuisi Nwankwo, according to the PPRO, were nabbed on September 3, 2014 following a raid on their hideout.
He said that the suspects sustained severe gunshot wounds in the serious gun battled that ensued between them and the policemen.
He said that the suspects were already helping the police in the investigations of the alleged kidnap of one Edith Uchedenyi and Chinwe Eze by their gang.
