By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Police operatives in Anambra State on Monday nabbed a lone armed robbery suspect after allegedly snatching the sum of N3.5m from a passerby at the Regina Caeli area of Awka, the state capital.

It was gathered that the suspect, Chukwuemeka Afor, 25, stormed the area with an automatic Pump action rifle firing indiscriminately before allegedly snatching a bag containing the money from the owner, Ebuka Ukakpu.

The Akpugo, Nkanu Soulth Local Government Area of Enugu State native however escaped being lynched as police officers arrived in time to save the situation.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Haruna Mohammed, said: “Today being 08/06/2020 at about 1:33pm, Police operatives attached to department of operations Awka and stationed at Regina Ceali junction by Zenith Bank PLC along Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Awka, responded to a distress call of armed robbery where a hoodlum armed with automatic Pump action rifle and firing indiscriminately allegedly snatched a bag containing the sum of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N3,500,000)cash from one Ebuka Ukeakpu ‘m’.

“Suspect one Chukwuemeka Afor ‘m’ aged 25 years, a native of Akpugo Nkanu South LGA, Enugu state who was almost lynched by the mob was arrested while the firearm and the snatched money also recovered in his possession

“However, four persons were hit with stray pellets discharged by the suspect but not life threatening. They were rushed to the Police hospital Awka including the suspect who was beaten to stupor by the mob and presently responding to treatment. Case is under investigation after which suspect(s) would be brought to book.”