The Enugu State Police have made a significant breakthrough in their fight against crime, arresting a dismissed soldier and seven others in connection with a series of armed robberies and financial frauds across the state. The police operation, which involved multiple tactical squads, led to the recovery of firearms, stolen goods, and over three hundred thousand Naira in cash.
The arrests took place on Saturday, December 7, 2024, when the Enugu State Police Command announced the success of a coordinated effort by the Emene Division, Crack and Octopus Tactical Squads, and the Neighbourhood Watch Group. The operation began after a distress call about an armed robbery at an estate in Emene.
“Thanks to the collaborative efforts of various police units, we were able to apprehend eight suspects, including a dismissed soldier, and seize a large number of stolen items,” said DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the police spokesperson. “The suspects were found in possession of firearms, cash, and electronics that were linked to their criminal activities.”
The arrested individuals have been identified as Ismaila Isah, 23; Sadik Ahmed, the 28-year-old dismissed soldier; Abbas Usman, 33; Mubarak Garba, 24; Abubakar Haruna, 23; Abubakar Sani, 32; Obiri Chukwuebuka, 22; and Bright Omeniru, also 22. Police recovered a range of stolen items, including two locally made pistols, over 300,000 Naira in cash, 10 laptops, mobile phones, jewelry, and even land documents.
The investigation leading to the arrests began on November 12, 2024, at around 3:30 am. The police responded to reports of an armed robbery at an estate in Emene. Ismaila Isah was caught during the operation with a locally made pistol and cash from the robbery. While some suspects fled the scene, Isah’s arrest opened the door for further investigations.
“During questioning, Isah confessed to his role in the robbery, leading us to the rest of the syndicate members,” said Ndukwe. “We were able to arrest Sadik Ahmed and the others after tracking them to their hideouts in New Garriki, Awkunanaw, Enugu.”
The investigation revealed that the syndicate was involved in multiple armed robberies in Enugu and surrounding areas. “The suspects used stolen mobile phones to withdraw money from their victims’ bank accounts, committing fraud in addition to their robberies,” Ndukwe explained.
The police also discovered that the stolen goods were being sold in nearby states, including Imo. In a surprising twist, Sadik Ahmed, the dismissed soldier, admitted that his knowledge of security protocols helped the gang evade detection, especially during the transportation of stolen items across state lines. “Ahmed used his former military training to bypass security checkpoints, which made it easier for the group to operate,” Ndukwe added.
The Octopus Tactical Squad, working on intelligence reports, later arrested two more suspects, Obiri Chukwuebuka and Bright Omeniru, in Owerri, Imo State. Both men reportedly admitted to using stolen phones to commit fraudulent withdrawals from their victims’ bank accounts. The police recovered two SIM cards from different networks during their arrest.
Despite the police’s claims, some uncertainties remain. SaharaReporters noted that the accused were not presented to the media for interviews, making it difficult to independently verify the full details of the operation.
Nevertheless, the police remain confident that the arrests will make a significant dent in the criminal activities of the syndicate. “The operation is a major success in the fight against crime in Enugu and other states,” said Ndukwe. “We will continue our investigations and ensure that the suspects are prosecuted for their actions.”
