Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Squad have arrested four suspected members of a notorious “one-chance” robbery syndicate operating in Abakpa-Nike and other parts of the Enugu metropolis.
The suspects were apprehended while operating with a tricycle and allegedly scouting for unsuspecting victims.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, identified the suspects as Ndubuisi Achioko (62), Nnaji Okeh (55), Nwobodo Dennis (57), and Chinedu Idam (36), all residents of Abakpa-Nike.
According to him, the suspects confessed during interrogation to being part of a larger robbery syndicate active in the area. They have since been arraigned before a competent court and remanded in a Correctional Centre, as efforts continue to track down other fleeing members of the gang.
In a related operation, police operatives attached to the Adani Division, working with members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, foiled a kidnapping attempt along the Ngene-Ukwu axis of the Adani–Nsukka Road on at about 6:00 am on January 18. “The operation followed an intense gun duel with suspected kidnappers, during which one suspect was killed,” Ndukwe said.
Additionally, one AK-47 rifle loaded with two rounds of live ammunition was recovered at the scene, while other members of the gang escaped with gunshot injuries. Preliminary investigations showed that the suspects had emerged from a nearby bush with the intent to kidnap occupants of a vehicle plying the route. In response, police have intensified efforts to identify and arrest the fleeing suspects and dismantle the entire criminal network.
Residents and healthcare providers in the area have been urged to report anyone presenting with gunshot wounds or suspicious injuries to the nearest police station or security formation. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has commended the operatives for their gallantry and professionalism, while reaffirming the police’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of residents across the state.