The Enugu State Command of the Nigerian Police Force has arrested three armed robbery suspects with firearms.
The command spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, said the suspects were arrested between May 3 and 7 in Garriki, Awkunanaw and Trans-Ekulu parts of the state.
Ndukwe gave the names of the suspects as David Ogah Bassey alias Onye Army, aged 31; Akabue Favour, aged 18; and Obayi Chiemezie, aged 19.
According to the statement, Bassey was arrested by the command’s detectives serving in Awkunanaw Police Division on May 7, 2024, at about 1.30 p.m, while his cohorts escaped.
“One locally fabricated Beretta-like pistol was recovered from him,” the PPRO noted.
“The suspect’s arrest followed the receipt of a report from a tricyclist, who alleged that a gang of three armed robbers, on May 6, 2024, around 10 p.m., diverted their ride and robbed him of his cash, phone, and other belongings while he was conveying them to Garriki, Awkunanaw, Enugu.
“Upon leading the detectives to the scene of the incident, the suspect sighted them and attempted to escape before he was caught, and the firearm was recovered from him.
“The victim was able to identify the suspect as one of the same armed gang members who robbed him the previous night.”
Ndukwe noted that Operatives of the Command serving in Oji-River Police Division, working with members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, on May 3, 2024, around 5:20 a.m., arrested Akabue Favour, aged 18, and Obayi Chiemezie, aged 19, both males and residents of Trans-Ekulu, Enugu.
“Two imitation revolver pistols, a snatched Honda car, a syringe containing a liquid substance suspected to be acid, and other exhibits were recovered from them.
“The suspects are alleged to have used the toy guns to snatch the recovered car from a male suspect, robbing him of his cash, handset, and other belongings, at Amaetiti-Akwu in the Achi community of Oji-River Local Government Area, on the same date around 5:05 a.m.
“But they could not escape, as the operatives gave them a hot chase and apprehended them after the car skidded off the road into the bush.”
The PPRO disclosed that all the suspects would be arraigned and prosecuted once investigations into the cases had been concluded.
