Nigerian Police Arrest 13 Suspects In Enugu, Recover Weapons Ahead Of Saturday Polls

The Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force says it has arrested 13 criminal suspects with arms and ammunition with other incriminating items ahead of the Saturday's Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

The suspects according to a statement on Wednesday, by the Command's spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, were arrested for the offences of conspiracy, armed robbery, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearm and cult activities.

Ndukwe said that their arrests led to the recovery of one English-made Pump Action Gun, one locally-made cut-to-size gun, seven expended cartridges, one Mini Bus, five commercial tricycles, phones. 

Giving the statistics of the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer, said "Police Operatives serving in Udi Police Division of the Command, with active assistance from personnel of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, on 12/03/2023 at about 1.30pm, arrested eight (8) male suspects while others escaped, during a cult initiation process in a forest at Obinagu in Udi Local Government Area. 

"The suspects include: one Igwe Joseph aged 34, Nze Kingsley aged 33, Emmanuel Egbu aged 37, Akachukwu Davidson aged 24, Nnamani Collins aged 40, Onaga Linus aged 28, Eze Chinaza aged 29 and Mkpadi Joseph aged 27. Seven (7) expended cartridges, an ENTRACO-branded Mini Bus, four (4) tricycles and several empty cartons of Squadron drink used for the initiation were recovered."

The command noted that investigation on the case was still ongoing at the Command’s Anti-cultism Squad, adding that as soon as investigations were concluded they would be charged to court.

"Similarly, Tactical Operatives serving in Anti-cultism Squad of the Command, in different operations carried out in late February and early March 2023, arrested one Ogbe Chekwube aged 25 (a.k.a “Akpaka and member of Burkina Faso Confraternity) and Justice Uche aged 21 (a.k.a “Aye Snow” and member of Black Axe Confraternity), as well as Ugwu Uchenna aged 29 (a.k.a “Aro-School Boy”), Nwoye Emmanuel aged 28 (a.k.a “Aro-Mmiri”) and Eneh Chinedu aged 24 (a.k.a Aro-Emene) all members of Vikings Confraternity.

"Their arrest is sequel to the receipt of series of credible information and reports alleging the perpetration of acts of armed robbery, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms, cultism and other criminal activities by the suspects. 

"One English-made Pump Action gun, one locally-fabricated cut-to-size gun, one Bajaj tricycle, several phones and SIM Cards, two (2) Bank’s ATM Cards, one (1) NIN and Driver’s License were recovered from them."

Ndukwe, however, noted that the suspects have all confessed to the crimes and had been arraigned in court and remanded in the Nigerian Custodial Centre.

He quoted the State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ammani, to have commended the team involved in the arrest, and charged them to remain steadfast, resilient and focused on actualising the mandates of the Nigeria Police Force in the state.