Monday, April 13, 2026 - The Imo State Police Command has smashed an armed robbery syndicate that specialised in the robbery of motorbikes and vehicles, as well as attempted murder.
Already, five suspects have been arrested for their
different roles in the robbery syndicate.
The police spokesperson for the Imo State Command, Henry
Okoye, made the disclosure on Sunday while addressing journalists at the Police
headquarters in Owerri.
He disclosed that the suspects attempted to bribe police
operatives with the sum of ₦5
million to evade arrest, but the offer was rejected.
According to him, investigations by operatives of the
Anti-Kidnapping Unit, led by Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa, resulted in the arrest of
five suspects and the recovery of one snatched shuttle bus, 450 motorcycles,
the sum of ₦6,495,900,
several vehicle plate numbers, and other incriminating exhibits, including
criminal charms.
He said a complainant, Chimeze Christian of Urata, Owerri
North Local Government Area, owner of Wonder Shuttle, had in a distress call,
reported that his driver, Paul Ohaka, who left with a vehicle bearing
registration number KPU 26 XA, failed to return as scheduled, prompting the
investigation.
However, the missing driver was found abandoned and
unconscious at Irete along the Onitsha Road axis, while the vehicle had been
forcefully taken by unknown assailants.
He was rushed to Vadan Hospital, New Owerri, where he is
currently receiving medical attention.
Okoye said police operatives, acting on the report,
commenced an investigation which led to the recovery of the missing vehicle,
which was about to be repainted in an attempt to conceal its identity.
He said two suspects, Olagoke Jelili and Godday Ezike, were
arrested at the scene and are currently under investigation.
Further investigation revealed 450 motorcycles in the
custody of the suspects, which they failed to account for.
Okoye said “further investigation led to the arrest of
Okechukwu Prince and Raymond Odinaka, who confessed to acting on the
instructions of a fleeing suspect, Osita Chigbo, alias “Barr. Oguta.” During
the operation, Paul Martins Anya, a suspected receiver of stolen vehicles, was
also arrested.
“A search of the premises led to the recovery of thirteen
(13) motorcycles suspected to be stolen, while follow-up operations resulted in
additional recoveries, bringing the total to four hundred and fifty (450)
suspected stolen motorcycles and other exhibits.
“The suspects were unable to provide valid proof of
ownership for the recovered motorcycles within the period of investigation.
“Rather, the syndicate allegedly attempted to relocate the
motorcycles to nearby bush paths in a bid to evade police detection. However,
acting on credible intelligence, operatives swiftly intercepted the movement,
leading to the large-scale recovery of the motorcycles”.
Okoye said the operation reflects the Command’s commitment
to intelligence-led policing and its resolve to ensure that criminal elements
have no safe haven within Imo State.
The State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, has directed
that all the suspects be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in accordance
with the law.
The spokesperson expressed appreciation to members of the
public for their continued cooperation and called for sustained support through
timely and credible information sharing.
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