The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested no fewer than 53 criminal male suspects for various offences while recovering firearms, ammunition and others exhibits in the state.
The police covered the following items which included: 28 firearms of assorted calibers, 30 live ammunition, 66 live cartridges, 25 vehicles and 16 motorcycles from the suspects arrested in various parts of the state.
Parading the criminal suspects on Tuesday in Enugu, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, said that the police operatives within the Command also rescued five kidnapped victims in the state.
He said: “It is on record that we have been able to drastically reduce incidences of kidnapping, particularly on some of our highways like the Opi/Nsukka and Ozalla/Udi Roads, which at some point were topical and challenging issues.
The commissioner said that the Command had found out that some of the criminal activities, particularly that of abduction during night hours, are mostly committed by secret cult members.
Uzuegbu said that he had directed the officer in-charge of my Anti-Cultism Squad to put in more efforts and ensure that cult groups and their criminal activities are further reduced to the barest minimum.
“However, let me categorically make it clear that we remain focused in ensuring a more secured and safer Enugu State, and shall not be distracted by such narratives.
“Especially now that the good and law-abiding people of the state are beginning to truly commend and appreciate our candid efforts in tackling crime situations in the state,” he said.
The commissioner said that the “state is safe and peaceful enough for residents, visitors and investors to carry out their businesses, adding that residents should continue to be law-abiding, vigilant and promptly report criminal activities to the nearest Police Station.
On the Christmas and New Year festivities being around the corner, Uzuegbu assured the residents especially those that would be coming back to celebrate the season with their loved ones, of adequate security.
“I also wish to thank the Inspector-General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun, for his sound leadership style and guidance, which have made our policing duties less cumbersome and more productive in the state.
“I wish to appreciate other security agencies, the Neighbourhood Watch Group, Forest Guards and local vigilantes, as well as the law-abiding citizens for all their support and assistance, which have immensely contributed to our operational successes. I, therefore, urge them to remain supportive.”
READ EXCERPTS
“From the 24th of September, 2023 when I last briefed the press, we have been able to record more operational breakthroughs in our effort to ruthlessly deal with unrepentant criminals and their activities in Enugu State. Note that most of the suspects arrest, which all males, have been arraigned in court and remanded in Correctional Service Custodial Centre. Accordingly, a summary and brief description of some of the cases leading to these breakthroughs is hereby highlighted as follows:
Summary of the Operational Breakthroughs
Number of suspects arrested (all males) – 53
Number of kidnapped/abducted victims rescued – 5
Number of firearms recovered – 28
Live ammunition recovered – 30
Live cartridges recovered – 66
Motor vehicles recovered – 25
Motorcycles recovered – 16
*Brief Description of Some of the Cases*
A Case of Kidnapping, Rescue of Victims, Arrest Suspects and Recovery of Ransom Cash and Mobile Phones.
The suspects involved are:
Emmanuel Ozor aged 28,
Tochukwu Simon Okorie aged 26, and
Eke Emmanuel aged 24.
Brief description of the case
The suspects were arrested on 04/11/2023 at about 2 p.m., by Police Operatives serving in Octopus Tactical Squad of the Command, following the receipt of a report that some kidnappers called the complainants demanding for a ransom of ten million naira (N10,000,000.00) before two male victims they kidnapped would be released. Upon receipt of the report, the Operatives, acting on intelligence, swung into action and arrested the suspect in Abakpa, Enugu; and also rescued the victims unhurt. Meanwhile, the ransom sum of five hundred thousand naira (N500,000.00) earlier paid to the suspects have been recovered, while further discreet investigation that will to the arraignment of the suspects is ongoing.
A Case of Abduction and Rescue of Victim
Brief description of the case
Police Operatives serving in Ozalla Police Division of the Enugu State Command, assisted by Neighborhood Watch Group and Nkanu West Special Vigilantes, on 05/11/2023 at about 4.00 a.m., ’escued a medical doctor in a forest between Udi and Akaegbe-Ugwu communities. The vi’tim was reported to have been abducted from the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, by yet-to-be identified hoodlums, at about 7.30 p.m. of November 4, 2023. The rescue is due to the prompt response of the Operatives to a distress call on the incident. Preliminary investigation reveals that the hoodlums gained entrance into the Teaching Hospital through its back end, which is unfenced, porous and leading into a forest. Further discreet investigation and intense manhunt of the fleeing miscreants are underway.
Case of Conspiracy, Armed Robbery and Recovery of Firearms, Ammunition, Military Uniforms and other Exhibits
The suspects Involved include:
Kelechukwu Eze (a.k.a. “Don Wany”) aged 27,
Nnabuike Abonyi (a.k.a. “Ogidi”) aged 30,
Ikechukwu Ugwu aged 29,
Odo Uchenna aged 28,
Eze Onyekachi aged 32,
Ikechukwu Odo aged 29, and
Onukwube Ugwu aged 21, all of Amalla in Udenu LGA.
Brief description of the case
The suspects were arrested on 11/10/2023 at about 5.30 a.m., by Police Operatives serving in Udenu Police Division, in conjunction with the Neighbourhood Watch Group, following their prompt response to credible information alleging that armed robbery suspects blocked the Obollo-Afor axis of the Enugu/Makurdi expressway and robbed travelers. Preliminary investigation shows that the suspects confessed to the crime, stating that they had repeatedly carried out the criminal acts on the same road before their arrest. The case is undergoing further discreet and conclusive investigation at the State CID Enugu.
Exhibits recovered from them include:
One (1) locally-made cut-to-size double-barreled gun
Another locally-made cut-to-size single-barreled gun
One (1) live cartridge
Two (2) pairs of full Military camouflage uniforms
One (1) POS machine
Seven (7) assorted mobile phones
A bag containing clothes and other wears, and
A blue-coloured female handbag.
Case of Conspiracy, Armed Robbery, Cultism, Arrest of Suspects and Recovery of Firearms
Suspects Involved are:
Maduka Nsude aged 52,
Tochukwu Okenwa aged 38,
Chukwudi Azuogwu aged 25,
Ani Chiemerie Moses aged 23,
Osita Okeke aged 30, of Ogwofia in Ezeagu L.G.A.
Brief description of the case
Acting on credible information, Police Operatives serving in Anti-Cultism Squad of the Command, in synergy with Neighbourhood Watch Group, arrested the suspects in different locations between 10/10/2023 to 13/10/2023. Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects confessed to their involvement in series of acts of armed robbery, house breaking and stealing. However, Azuogwu and Ani also confessed to being deadly members of Supreme Vikings confraternity. The suspects will be arraigned in court once investigations are concluded.
Exhibits recovered from them include:
One (1) Automatic Pump Action gun and
One (1) locally-made cut-to-size gun.
A Case of Conspiracy, Stealing, Cultism, Arrest of Suspects and Recovery of Stolen Motorcycles
The suspects involved are:
Nsude David (a.k.a. “Soft”), aged 23,
Kosara Chukwu, aged 19, and
Ebuka Okoro, aged 14.
Brief description of the case
Acting on credible information, Police Operatives serving in the Anti-Cultism Squad of the Command, on 31/10/2023, arrested the suspects at New Garriki and recovered two (2) Black KC Sanya and one (1) Daylong motorcycles. The suspects confessed to the crime, while Nsude and Kosara confessed to respectively being members of Black Axe and Supreme Vikings confraternities. They will be arraigned and prosecuted in court once investigations are concluded.
Recovery of Firearm and Abandoned Vehicle
Brief description of the case:
On 31/10/2023 at about 9p.m., Police Operatives serving in Awkunanaw Police Division while on patrol at Topland Awkunanaw, recovered an abandoned green-coloured Lexus Jeep with Reg. No. ENU 17 BB. Search conducted on the vehicle led to the further recovery of one (1) locally-made double-barreled shotgun. Preliminary investigation reveals that the vehicle was abandoned by armed hoodlums, who earlier used it to carry out their criminal activities, due to pressure mounted on them by the Police. Further discreet investigation into the case is ongoing.
A Case of Recovery of Firearm
Brief Description of the Case:
On 08/10/2023 at about 3.30 p.m., Police Operatives serving in Awkunanaw Police Division, working with an informant recovered three (3) locally-fabricated shotguns and one (1) .9mm calibre of ammunition, reportedly abandoned by criminal suspects. Further discreet investigation is ongoing to apprehend the suspects at large.
A Case of Car Snatching, Arrest of Suspect and Recovery of Vehicle
The suspect involved is:
Sunday Ogwa aged 27, of Owa Street Emene.
Brief description of the case
The suspect was arrested on 02/10/2023 at about 9.45 p.m., by Police Operatives serving in Awkunanaw Police Division while on Patrol duty. The suspect and his cohort at large were accosted and arrested along Enugu/Port-Harcourt expressway while attempting to tow a light-blue-coloured Lexus Jeep with Reg. No. ENU 745 CE at Topland Awkunanaw to a hidden place.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, who initially could not account for the vehicle’s ownership, confessed to having snatched the vehicle from its owner at gunpoint in Uwani, Enugu. And that they were taking the vehicle to Anambra State, when it broke down along Enugu/Port-Harcourt expressway. Further discreet investigation is ongoing”.
