Anambra state police command, Thursday said they have arrested two suspected robbers impersonating as police to snatch vehicles from victims.
The suspects, Mr Hassan Abuka, aged 33 and Mr Ismaila Ahmed, aged 37, both hail from Otukpo, Benue state, were fully dressed in Police camouflage uniform bearing a DSP rank when nabbed.
In a release signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Haruna Muhammed, on behalf of the Commissioner, John Abang, alleged that the suspects specialised in impersonating Police to deceive their victims.
According to Muhammed, they snatched a Toyota Corolla car with registration number “Lagos AGL 357 FC, from a yet to be identified victim in Lagos and were geolocated at their hideout in Anambra State. Exhibits recovered in their possession includes the snatched vehicle and additional vehicle plate number Lagos FKJ 701 FR.”
The command also arrested five suspects including Mr Felix Chukwujiama, aged 33 and Mr Oluchukwu Anyafule, aged 32, of Oba Idemili south LGA of Anambra State; Mr Ikechukwu Ibezim, aged 35 and Mr Ikechukwu Igwe, aged 35 of Orlu Imo State; and Mr Emeka Mama, aged 34 of Nsukka, Enugu State.
The PPRO said, “It would be recalled that on the 7th August, 2019 at about 6.47am, puff-adder operatives in conjunction with patrol team attached to operation kpochapu while on stop and search duty at upper Iweka in Onitsha intercepted a bus with registration number UKP- 108-ZU coming from Asaba.
“After a thorough search they recovered a Police Beretta pistol with breech number AO-4909Z loaded with seven rounds of life ammunition, one expanded ammunition and Six different handsets in possession of one Sunday Onyema ‘m’ aged 35years of orlu in Imo State.
“Discreet investigation by police detectives attached to the Command Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) further led to the arrests of five additional suspects who belonged to the same syndicate at different locations within Orlu LGA of Imo State, Nsukka in Enugu State and Oba in Idemili South LGA of Anambra State as follows,
“Meanwhile, exhibits recovered from the suspects in addition to the Barret and a pistol earlier recovered includes, one English chief revolver pistol, one locally made double barrel pistol, five live cartridges and one .9mm live ammunition. All the Suspects have voluntarily confessed to the crime and are assisting the Police with useful information that could aid investigation after which they would be charged to court for prosecution.”
