The Enugu State Police Command has arrested five suspects and recovered three firearms, six rounds of live ammunition and other exhibits in separate operations across the state.
The arrests followed intelligence-led operations targeting armed robbery, cultism and other violent crimes, according to a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, on Thursday.
In one of the operations, police responding to an armed robbery distress call in the early hours of Wednesday arrested a 26-year-old suspect, Arinze Osita Onwuaso, at Umuaor, Umukabia Isiama Awlaw Community in Oji-River Local Government Area.
The police said operatives attached to the Inyi Division arrived at about 5:10 a.m. on October 7 and arrested Onwuaso, while other suspected robbers fled the scene.
A locally made cut-to-size single-barrel gun, two live cartridges, a pry bar, hammer, scissors and chisel were recovered from the suspect, the command said.
In a separate operation on October 5, operatives of the Anti-Cultism Section of the Violent Crime Response Unit arrested two suspected cultists, Jonas Adejo, also known as J-Money, 24, and Okoro Innocent, alias Virus, 25, at Umudioka Community in Nsukka.
Three rounds of 9mm ammunition were recovered from the suspects, who allegedly confessed during interrogation to being members of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity.
The police also said operatives of the Aninri Division, working with members of the Neighborhood Watch Group, raided a suspected criminal hideout at Amagu Mpu Community in Aninri LGA on September 25.
The operation led to the arrest of 25-year-old Anichebe Ogbonna, with one locally made pistol recovered from him.
Similarly, on September 18, police operatives attached to the 9th Mile Division arrested 38-year-old Chukwujekwu Chukwuemeka at Ameke-Ngwo in Udi LGA over alleged involvement in armed robbery.
The suspect was arrested at about 11 p.m. following intelligence gathered by the police and with the assistance of members of the Neighborhood Watch Group.
A cut-to-size pump-action gun and one live cartridge were recovered from him, the command said.
The police said investigations into the cases are ongoing and the suspects would be arraigned after the conclusion of investigations.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended residents for providing information that assisted the operations and praised the officers involved for responding promptly to distress calls and intelligence.
Giwa said the command would sustain intelligence-led operations against armed robbery, cultism and other violent crimes across the state.
He urged residents to remain vigilant, law-abiding and continue providing credible information to the police.
