The Imo State Police Command has arrested seven armed robbery suspects and recovered firearms and ammunition in Ihiagwa, located in the Owerri West Council Area.

This operational success is part of the police’s ongoing efforts to combat violent crime through intelligence-led operations.

In a statement by the Imo State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Okoye Henry, it was reported that the arrests followed a complaint made by a student from the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, who alleged he was robbed at gunpoint along FUTO Road in Ihiagwa.

Acting on credible intelligence, operatives from the Ihiagwa Police Division arrested three suspects: Stanley Nwachukwu, Moses Okezie, and Gabriel Confidence. These suspects were subsequently transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for further investigation.

During the investigation, the suspects allegedly confessed to being members of the Vikings Confraternity and provided information that led to the arrest of four additional suspects: Emeka Oguike, Gideon Kadiri, Nnodim David, and Kingsley Okwara, at various locations.

Okoye stated that these arrests are part of the ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating within the student community.

Additionally, police searches conducted during the operation resulted in the recovery of one cut-down English-made single-barrel gun, one locally made revolver pistol, one locally made single-barrel gun, and four rounds of live cartridges. The investigation is still ongoing to apprehend other suspects who are currently at large.

The Public Relations Officer emphasised that the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Audu Garba Bosso, commended the operatives for their professionalism. He reassured residents of the police’s commitment to fighting cultism, armed robbery, and other violent crimes, while encouraging the public to continue providing timely and credible information to assist the police. (Saturday Tribune)