By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Anambra State Police command have arrested leader of a criminal gang which specializes in robbing commuters along Ufuma–Oko–Uga – Amaokpala road in Orumba North and Aguata Local Government Areas of the state.

Disclosing this in a press release, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Tochukwu Ikenga, said that only the leader of the gang was arrested as his members escaped.

He said that the group leader confessed to being the gang which recently robbed a hotel in Ndikelionwu, where a female staff was raped.

“Police Operatives attached to Oko divisional headquarters acting on a credible information in the early hours of 6/9/2022 bursted a criminal hide out, an uncompleted building along Oko – Ufuma expressway in Orumba North LGA.

“Operatives arrested one Okechukwu Okpo ‘M’ age 24years of Ndobasi village, Ebonyi State. One locally fabricated pistol, two live cartridges and three plasma television were recovered.

“The criminal gang on sighting the police vehicle opened fire on the operatives, who responded swiftly, engaging the armed robbers in a gun battle. While other gang members fled the scene, Okechukwu was arrested.

“Preliminary investigations shows that the gang were responsible for over 25 armed robbery, kidnapping, car-snatching incidents that has happened along Oko Ufuma, Uga, Amaokpala expressway, among others.

“The most recent according to the confessional statement of the suspect (Okechukwu) is an attack in a hotel on 13/8/2022 at Ndikelionwu, where a female staff was raped and the gang also made away with three television and other items. Efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing gang members,” the release read.

He further said that four other suspected criminals have been arrested in a separate incident.

According to him, the suspects who were arrested in conjunction with local security include; Chukwubike Anieto ‘m’ Aged 20years from Agulu, Chukwuemerie Ike ‘m’ aged 36years from Agulu, Chidera muo ‘m’ aged 25years from Neni and Chukwuma Israel ‘m’ aged 28 years all residing at Umuezeani village Akwaeze.

Ikenga added: “We recovered one berreta pistol, three motorcycles, one axe, three machetes, one police belt, one Sumec generator, thirteen different brands of phones and other incriminating items.

“Interrogation by the police operatives revealed that the gang attacked a police Constable, dispossessed him of his personal belonging on 29/8/2022 along Umukabia Okofia village, Neni. Also most recently, the gang were caught in the act on 9/9/2022 in an attempt to rob a lady of her belonging along Okofia village, Neni.”