The Enugu State Police Command, on Tuesday, said it had arrested eight persons for alleged kidnapping, possession of firearms, armed robbery and cultism.
It said five firearms, including an AK-47 rifle, 10 live cartridges and one empty shell of 7.62mm calibre ammunition, two motor vehicles, two tricycles, six motorcycles, one dagger, machete and weed suspected to be Indian Hemp were recovered during the operations.
A statement by the command’s spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, said the feat was achieved following strategies put in place by the state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Aliyu, to actualise the mandates of the Operation Restore Peace in the state.
Ndukwe said the CP applauded the achievement and charged his operatives to remain resolute in the quest to actualise the mandate of the Operation Restore Peace.
The statement was titled: ‘Operation Restore Peace: Enugu police operatives arrest 8 male suspects for different offences, recover AK-47 and other firearms, ammunition, motor vehicles, tricycles, motorcycles and other incriminating items’.
It read in part, “On June 13, 2021, around 8.30am, police operatives of the command attached to the Anti-Cultism Squad arrested one Nwaokor Chinonso, 27, of Akpugo community in the Nkanu West LGA after they swiftly responded to credible information alleging that a group of armed cultists were breaching the public peace at Obofia community in the Nkanu West LGA of the state.
“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a member of the Vikings Confraternity and that the group was having a meeting in the area before the operatives busted them. Two locally-made double-barrelled pistols; seven live cartridges; a black Toyota Camry and a black Honda Accord with number plates UWN 394 GU and BDG 14 EG, respectively; two yellow tricycles with number plates ENU 518 WN and JRV 228 VD; six motorcycles of different make; empty bottles of alcoholic drink; and some quantity of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, were recovered. Meanwhile, further discreet investigation is ongoing.
“The above is even as police operatives of the command attached to the Oji River Police Division, in synergy with men of the Neighbourhood Watch, recovered an AK-47 rifle with breech number: 038244 without magazine from a thicket at Ude village in Ugwuoba community of the Oji River LGA on June 8, 2021, around 5pm.
“The recovery is sequel to the operatives storming the thicket on the receipt of credible information alleging that a group of armed hoodlums were sighted perfecting plans to carry out robbery operations. Meanwhile, intense discreet investigation has been launched to fish out and bring the hoodlums to justice.”
Also, on June 6, 2021, around 5.30am, Ndukwe said police operatives attached to the Anti-Cultism Squad of the command arrested one Onyekachukwu Obiagu, aka Condom, 20; Ifeacho Chisom, aka Gatuso, 19; and Chimobi Ozor, aka Pessi, 20, all of Ugwuagor Abakpa-Nike, Enugu, following a distress call.
Upon a search on the suspects, who confessed to be members of the Black Axe Confraternity, one cut-to-size locally-made single-barrelled gun loaded with a live cartridge was recovered from them.
The statement added, “Similarly, operatives attached to the Ogui Police Division, on June 4, 2021, around 12pm, arrested one Alfred Erhiano, 29, of Bedright Street Uwani Enugu, based on intelligence and recovered a locally-made pistol with two live cartridges and an empty shell of 7.62mm calibre ammunition.
“Upon interrogation, the suspect led the operatives to arrest one Emeka Orajiaka, 37, of Nnaji Street Uwani Enugu, whom he claimed gave him the firearm and ammunition. Meanwhile, the case is undergoing further discreet investigation at the state CID.
“In another development, based on intelligence, operatives attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the command, on June 3, 2021, around 10am, arrested one Arinze Ozoguji, aka Oscar, 22; and Chinecherem Omesu, aka Teeth, 17, of No. 91 Ogui Road and No. 32 Richard Extension, Asata, Enugu, respectively, in their criminal hideout in Mararaba town, Nasarawa State.
“Their arrest is in furtherance of an ongoing investigation into a case of kidnapping, armed robbery and other offences in which other members of their criminal gang have been arrested, charged and remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service. The suspects confessed to the crime, while a machete and a dagger were recovered from them.”