Saturday, December 07, 2024 -Enugu State Police Command has announced the dismantling of an interstate criminal syndicate specialised in armed robbery and financial fraud.
It said this was achieved through coordinated operations involving the Emene Division, Crack, and Octopus Tactical Squads, alongside the Neighbourhood Watch Group, which led to the arrest of eight (8) male suspects and the recovery of firearms, ammunition, cash, and other stolen items.
The arrested suspects include: Ismaila Isah (aged 23), Sadik Ahmed (a
dismissed soldier, aged 28), Abbas Usman (aged 33), Mubarak Garba (aged 24),
Abubakar Haruna (aged 23), Abubakar Sani (aged 32), Obiri Chukwuebuka (aged
22), and Bright Omeniru (aged 22).
According to Ndukwe, “Two locally made pistols loaded with a live and
expended cartridge and a cash sum of three hundred thousand, four hundred and
fifty Naira (N300,450.00) were recovered.
“Further recovered are ten laptops, land documents, ten mobile phones,
assorted jewellery and watches, one MP3 player, one headphone, four power
banks, two SIM cards, footwear, and bags.
“The operation commenced on November 12, 2024, around 3:30 a.m., when
operatives from the Emene Division, supported by Neighbourhood Watch members,
responded to a distress call regarding an armed robbery at an estate in Emene.
“During the operation, Ismaila Isah was apprehended with one locally
made pistol, the said N300,450.00, and some stolen items, while others escaped.
“Ismaila was later transferred to the Crack Tactical Squad for further
investigation.
“His confessional statements and subsequent discreet investigations led
to the arrest of Sadik Ahmed, Abbas Usman, Mubarak Garba, Abubakar Haruna, and
Abubakar Sani at their hideouts in New Garriki, Awkunanaw, Enugu. Another
locally made pistol and additional stolen items were recovered.”
He added that operatives from the Octopus Tactical Squad utilised an
intelligence report and arrested Obiri Chukwuebuka and Bright Omeniru in
Owerri, Imo State.
“During interrogation, they admitted to using phones stolen by the
syndicate to fraudulently withdraw funds from victims’ bank accounts. Two SIM
cards from different networks were also recovered.
“Investigations reveal that the suspects confessed to committing
multiple armed robberies within the Enugu metropolis and using the victims’
mobile phones’ SIM cards to also commit acts of fraud.
“They further confessed to moving and selling the stolen proceeds in Imo
and other States. Sadik Ahmed, the dismissed soldier, admitted to exploiting
his background as a former security agent to bypass checkpoints during the
interstate shipment of the stolen items.
“The suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of
investigations.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, has commended the
operatives for the operational breakthroughs.
“He urges them to sustain the momentum against criminal activities,
especially during the festive season,” the PPRO further stated.
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