The Enugu State Police Command has arrested four suspects and recovered firearms, ammunition, and other dangerous items during targeted operations across parts of the state.
The police spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement issued in Enugu on Wednesday. He said the arrests and seizures were part of the command’s ongoing efforts to crack down on armed robbery, cultism, and illegal possession of weapons.
According to the police, the suspects were involved in crimes including conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism, and unlawful possession of firearms.
Ndukwe stated that operatives of the Crack Tactical Squad, working with the Neighbourhood Watch Group, arrested two suspects — Esomchi Ugwu, 26, and Kosisochukwu Ukwuani, 19 — on June 22 at about 11:30 a.m. in Enugu-Ngwo, Udi Local Government Area. Recovered from them were a single-barrelled pistol, a cut-to-size gun, and four live cartridges.
“The suspects confessed to being members of the Black Axe Confraternity,” Ndukwe said.
In a separate operation the same day, officers from the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad recovered another locally made single-barrelled pistol, one live 7.62mm ammunition, and four live cartridges. The items were hidden inside a cooking pot at the home of one Friday Ogbodo in Ndiagu-Ugwuaji, Enugu South LGA.
Ogbodo reportedly fled the scene when he saw the police approaching. His arrest is being pursued. His alleged accomplice, Izuchukwu Anyanwu, 26, had already been arrested and made a confessional statement that led police to the scene.
On June 23, police officers from the New Haven Division responded to a distress call around 4 a.m. and recovered a device resembling a firearm — a gun-shaped VL-Light Electronic Gas Igniter which was used by fleeing suspects to intimidate victims during a failed robbery.
Police say investigations are ongoing, and efforts to arrest the remaining suspects are in progress.
The Enugu State Police Command reiterated its commitment to rid the state of criminal elements and urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the authorities.
