▪︎Recover two AK-47 Rifles, five Pump Action Guns, six Pistols, others, from Onueke Commercial Bank Robbers
The operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Ebonyi State Police Command have intercepted 753 live ammunition of General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) concealed in a sac being transported in a commercial vehicle from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, to Umuahia in Abia State.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters Abuja, CP Frank Mba, the intelligence-driven covert operation, which led to the interception and recovery of the deadly ammunition, was part of efforts by the Force to identify and crack down on criminal networks and supply chains for weapons and ammunition in and around the country.
He said that comprehensive investigations aimed at bringing to book all persons linked to the crime were ongoing.
Mba stated that investigations into the foiled bank robbery on the Onueke branch of a commercial bank in Ebonyi State which occurred on Tuesday, 27th April, 2021 were also on.
According to him, Police operatives led by the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, on 29th April, 2021, stormed the criminal hideout of suspects indicted in the investigations located at Oriuzo village in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
He said the suspects on sighting the Police squad, opened fire on them.
The Police team engaged them gallantly and professionally, he said.
Mba stated that at the end, three members of the gang including two male and one female met their waterloo following bullet injuries sustained during the exchange of gunfire.
He said other suspects fled in different directions while two Ak47 riffles, five pump action guns, six pistols, 50 Ak47 ammunition, one hundred and twenty-six cartridges, Jack knives, cutlasses, and a 40-page notebook containing inventories of ammunition purchased by the gang were recovered.
Mba added that a Honda Pilot Jeep with Reg No. ABJ 163 NV used for the foiled bank robbery was also recovered by the Police team.
He said in their quest to apprehend the remaining suspects, the Police team traced the suspects to a shrine where the robbers usually go for mystical powers before embarking on their robbery operations.
Mba said two of the suspects were eventually arrested from the supposedly safe haven – the shrine, which led to the arrest of additional three members of the gang.
He said efforts were ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the gang and their spiritual godfather – the chief priest of the shrine.
Mba said the Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Usman Alkali Baba commended the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Police Command, CP Aliyu Garba, and officers of the command, for excellently harnessing intelligence to nip the crimes in the bud.
He assured citizens of the renewed commitment of the Force to improving public safety and combating all forms of violent crimes across the land.
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