AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
THE Ebonyi State Police command has apprehended 11 suspects for looting, armed robbery and cultism in the Effium Community of Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba, made this disclosure in a statement, signed by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Loveth Odah.
He urged residents to sustain the partnership in the fight against crime and warned looters to desist from their criminal acts.
“The Police operatives attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Ebonyi State Command, on 10th March 2021, at about 2pm, arrested six suspects for looting and carting away properties from Effium/Ezza Effium,” he said.
The suspects arrested, according to the statement, include Nonso Abah ‘m’ 25 years; Obodo Kelechukwu ‘m’ 30 years; Friday Aba ‘m’ 40 years; Akam Ozoemena ‘m’ 20 years, all of Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State; and Elijah Nwankwo ‘m’ 37 years, a driver from Enugu State.
The statement said, “The looted property belongs to one Monday Awegbe ‘m’ 50 years of No. 1 Idoma Road, by Ikpoki Junction, Effium, a businessman who, as a result of the ongoing crisis between the Ezza/Effium communities, ran for safety, leaving his shop/goods under the care of his inlaw, Mr. Jim Chukwu, of the same address.
“On the aforementioned date, the suspects were intercepted along Enugu/Abakaliki Expressway by Speed Way Filling Station, in a vehicle loaded with the stolen property, such as Iron rods, generators, gas cylinders and assorted electronic appliances worth millions of naira. The suspects were arrested and the exhibits recovered from them.
“The suspects admitted committing the crime but alleged that Jim, the complainant’s inlaw, claimed that the properties belonged to his father and ordered them to convey the goods to the buyer at different locations in the State.
“Consequently, the suspects led the Police Operatives to Ngbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the State, where the receiver, Ode Silas, was arrested and many other goods were recovered from him, while the principal suspect, Jim Chukwu, is still at large. A frantic effort is on to arrest the suspect.
“In the same vein, the Police operatives attached to CP’s Monitoring Unit, in collaboration with local security men from Okposi Umuoghara, in Ezza North Local Government Area of the State, arrested three (3) suspects who are criminals and on the wanted list of the Command.
“They are: Chisom Otubo ‘m’ 23 years; Kelechi Nweze ‘m’ 18 years; and Chimaobi Nwoye ‘m’ 18 years.”
Two locally-made pistols and two live cartridges were said to have been recovered from them.
The Command said, “The suspects confessed to the crime and admitted that they are members of the secret cult group, Vikings Confraternity, a.k.a Aro-Baggar, and have participated in many robbery operations within the area.
“Some of the complainants and their victims have also identified them as the actual robbers who had robbed them at different locations in the area. The case is under investigation and the suspects will be charged to court thereafter.
“In another development, the Police operatives attached to Ikwo Division, in collaboration with Amagu youths, arrested two (2) suspects, namely: one Amos Nweke ‘m’ 21 years; and Onyemauche Ekwuma ’m’ 28 years, who attempted to rob a victim on the 7th of March, 2021, at about 10.30pm, along Jukwueze Junction, Amagu, in Ikwo Local Government Area of the State. One (1) locally made pistol was recovered from them.
“The suspects confessed to the crime and also admitted to be members of Aye Confraternity, a secret cult, aka Black Axe.”
The suspects have been arraigned in court.
The CP warned those looting properties from Effium Community to desist from it as he had directed the security agencies who were on peace keeping operations in the area to arrest anyone seen doing so.
He said anyone wishing to move his/her property out of Effium Community should liaise with the Divisional Police Officer, Effium, for guidelines on how to do so.
