Hyacinth Chinweuba/Richard Ginika Izuora
Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have smashed a notorious gang of suspected armed robbery syndicate that specialized in car snatching.
The hoodlums were nabbed by detectives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in three operations, according to the State Commissioner of Police (CP), John B. Abang.
Parading the suspects at the State Police Command Headquarters in Awka, Abang said the first group, made up six members, armed with AK 47 rifles and other dangerous weapons, were trailed to their hideouts along Eze-Iweka by high tension, Awada after snatching, at gun point, a Toyota Venza with customized registration number “KOCO”, valued at six million Naira (N6, 000, 000) from one Nwadike Collette Kosisochukwu ‘f’ at Ndogo village, Nise.
According to him, on sighting the detectives, the hoodlums apparently smelt danger and, in a bid to overrun the officers, resorted to sporadic shootings, resulting in an exchange of fire, during which two of the marauders fell to the superior fire power of the operatives, while others escaped with a varying degree of injuries.
The fatally injured suspects “were rushed to the hospital for treatment but one of them, whose identity is yet unknown, was confirmed dead on arrival while the second suspect, identified as Michael Ogbonna, ‘m’ aged 45 years, of Achina town in Aguata LGA of Anambra State, who also sustained gunshot injuries on his leg, is receiving treatment”, the police boss said, adding that a Berretta Pistol with four (4) live ammunition, and one anti-car tracking device were recovered from them
Also recovered, through what the CP described as “actionable intelligence”, was the snatched Toyota Venza.
“Meanwhile, in another development, the Command Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) arrested, with gunshot injuries, one Obinna Nwabunike ‘m’ of Abigi village, Umuoji. Exhibits recovered from the suspect include; One Taurius Beretta Pistol with breech number TM 856888, loaded with ten (10) rounds of G2C .9mm live ammunition.
“Furthermore, on the 12/01/2020, the Command SARS Operatives also arrested, in Asaba, Delta State, one Paul Chukwuezugo ‘m’ aged 40 years. Exhibits recovered from him were a Mercedes Benz 350, without registration number and one Lexus Jeep, which was allegedly snatched from the owner after killing him”, the CP said.
CP Abang noted that, all the suspects were members of the same syndicate, and attributed the overall successes recorded by the Command to the support of the good people of “Ndi Anambra” who, he said, have been extremely law abiding and very cooperative with the personnel of the security agencies.
He, however, urged them to sustain their level of cooperation with the Police at all times, contending that, “We are, indeed, in an era when community policing remains the vogue and the people we are serving continue to demand for excellent service. I also encourage the good people of Anambra State to be security conscious at all times; and report any strange observation or suspicious movements to the security agencies for prompt response”.