Segun Atanda/
Three dismissed Navy officers have been arrested in Abia State for armed robbery.
They were among many suspects paraded Wednesday for offences ranging from car snatching, kidnapping, burglary and cultism.
Cars recovered from the various gangs included one Toyota Lexus, two Toyota Highlander Jeeps, one Toyota Camry, one Toyota Sequoia, a Volkswagen Torres SUV, a Volvo Jeep, and a Mitsubishi.
The state commissioner of police (CP), Mr Adeleye Oyebade, told reporters that the dismissed officers were arrested by detectives on the trail of a 4-man gang that snatched a Toyota Lexus at about 7pm on August 7.
Another suspect wanted for kidnapping and armed robberies in Abia was crossed in Cross River State, as he was about to re-register a snatched Toyota Highlander SUV at the Federal Road Safety Corps office in Calabar, the state capital.
He gave details of the cases in his address: “Information was received that one Toyota Lexus RX 300 Jeep with registration number YAB 954 BH was snatched from its owner, one Egwudirobi Kingsley of Obu Street Obohia Road in Aba on August 7, at about 2100hours by four armed men. A team of patrol men attached to Central Police Station Aba swiftly went into action and tracked the vehicle with the hoodlums to Nsukka, Enugu State on August 9. The trio of 32-year-old Ikenna Ogbonna, Okoro Vincent, 36, and Ibrahim Maza, 32, were arrested with the vehicle. The suspects are dismissed Navy officers and one civilian as well as ex-convicts recently released from the Prisons. Effort is intensified toward arresting the fourth member of the gang.
“On July 25, in Calabar, Cross River State, one Obioma Onwuchekwa, 31, of Umuozuo Osisioma Ngwa LGA who had been on the run since 7th April, 2017 after his involvement in armed robbery within Aba was arrested by a team of detectives attached to Anti-kidnapping Section, State CIID Umuahia. Intensive surveillance placed on the suspect led to his arrest at Federal Road Safety Corps office in Calabar where he had gone to re-register the Toyota Highlander Jeep which initial registration number was ABJ 573 JLX.
“It was snatched from the owner, one Jeff Omadewu, on April 07, 2017 along Okorama Street off MCC Road, Abayi, Aba. Suspect will be charged to Court after diligent investigation.”
“Following the arrest (on a tip off) of the duo of Samuel Akoma, of Umuako Obohia Ibere Ikwuano LGA and Kenneth Ananaba of Umuananaba Obegwu Ugwunagbo LGA at Arris Hotels, Ogbor-Hill in Aba, by a team of operatives attached to the Command’s Dragon Squad on July 27 and subsequent investigation by detectives attached to the Command’s Anti-kidnapping Section, the suspects confessed to have on July 23, at about 2028hrs along Omenazu Street, Faulks Road in Aba, kidnapped one Kelvin Chijioke Wogu, of 8 Garden City/ Omenazu Street Aba in his Toyota Highlander Jeep with registration number FST 263 DN. The suspects also confessed to have collected a N3million ransom before the release of their hostage and led the investigation to the arrest of the gang member, one Goodluck Iheoma Sunday, at Umuobii Ukpakiri Obingwa LGA. The gang’s operational Mitsubishi Jeep with registration number UMA 103 SW and the hostage’s Toyota Highlander Jeep were recovered. Investigation is in progress.
“On August 9, 2017 at about 1930hrs, information was received that someone was abducted along MCC by Umuocham Road, in Aba; based on this, a team of patrol men attached to Abayi Division, in Aba, promptly raced to the scene where the hoodlums on sighting the patrol team, hastily abandoned the victim in the Volkswagen Torres SUV with registration number NCA 778 AM and took to their heels. The victim was later identified as Kalu Deno Hansond of Achilihu Street by Umule Aba was rescued and his vehicle recovered. One locally made shotgun with its live cartridge abandoned inside the vehicle by the hoodlums was also recovered. Effort is on to track down the perpetrators.
“On August 6, at about 1700hours, acting on a tip off, detectives attached to Ndiegoro Division in Aba, arrested the duo of Chinedu Chukwuemeka and Nnamani Emmanuel, both males who had confessed to robbing people of their valuables. Investigation is in progress toward arresting their cohorts and recovering items of violence used in their operations.
“Consequent upon information received, operatives attached to Ndiegoro Division, Aba, arrested six members of ‘Blood Tiger Confraternity’ at different locations in their AOR. They are Item Paul Obinna, Ndiukwu Kosisochukwu, Prince Anyadike, Israel Chinazaekpere, Ifeanyi Chimezie and Best Uchechukwu Ngam. Incriminating items recovered from them included: suspected stolen GSM phones, Military Camouflage, red berets and weeds suspected to be Cannabis. Suspects have volunteered useful information which resulted in placing their initiation venues under surveillance.
“On August 10, 2017 at about 1700hours, following a tip off, operatives attached to D7 SCIID Umuahia arrested the duo of Igwe Ogbonna of Ndiuhu Ozuitem in Bende LGA of Abia State but resident at No. 3, Onyeike Street Faulks Road, Aba, and Ndidi Nna of Egbelu Mbutu in Isiala Ngwa North LGA of Abia State who lives at Eze Iheme Street Okpulo-Umuobo Aba. The suspects were arrested while negotiating to dispose-off a Volvo Jeep, Ash in colour with registration number FST 997 AX. During a search on the vehicle, the documents found therein bear the name of one Rev. Nelson Uzoma Duru and a call put through to his phone number revealed that the vehicle was snatched at gun point from him on August 6, 2017 in Owerri. On interrogation suspects confessed to have snatched the vehicle in Owerri Imo State. Investigation is in progress towards arresting the other fleeing members of the gang.
“On August 11, at about 0650hours, while responding to a distress call, operatives attached to D7 SCIID Umuahia arrested the trio of Chibuzor Morrison of Ezinihite Mbaise in Imo State, Chijioke Chukwu of Amaba Ugwueke Bende LGA of Abia State and Obinna Nkiri of Nimo Anambra State. Suspects had on August 10, 2017 at about 2230hours, along Kaduna Street and Owerri Road in Umuahia attacked the following persons: Olumachi Emeka of No. 13 Arochukwu Street, Umuahia, Johnson Emeka of same address and Kenneth U. Okoronkwo of No. 20 World Bank Housing Estate Umuahia. The victims were robbed at gunpoint, sustained machete injuries and were dispossessed of one Tecno W4 cell phone valued at N40,000, one Tecno W3 cell phone valued at N30,000, one Sony Ericson phone valued at N40,000, one Nokia Torch cell phone valued at N6,500, and cash sum of N41,300. The exhibits were instantly recovered from the suspects and during interrogation, they confessed to the crime. Victims are receiving treatment while investigation continues.
“On August 4, at about 1900hours, detectives attached to D7 SCIID Umuahia arrested one Onyekachi Nwaogu of No. 7 Nwankwo Street off Obohia Aba South LGA and recovered one Toyota Camry, with registration number SSM 521 TP, red in colour, engine number 5X3249568 and chassis number 4018G12K4TU74221, suspected to be stolen. Efforts are intensified towards tracking the actual owner.
“On August 2, at about 1200hours, one Henry Chukwuemeka of Uzuagba Village in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State living at No. 21 Crescent Road in Aba, who specializes in dispossessing unsuspecting car dealers of their vehicles, in the guise of purchasing them, was arrested.
“The suspect who was arrested by the operatives of SIIB Umuahia in collaboration with the vigilante men at Umuojima Junction along Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway in Aba attempted to snatch one Toyota Sequoia Jeep with registration number NCK 719 AB from one Chimaobi Atulegwu of Ikem Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South. The suspect had haggled for the said jeep and agreed with the seller at the sum of N1.150million. The suspect having received the seller account number for payment, requested to test run the vehicle during which he deliberately drove it into a ditch with the hope that the seller will alight from the vehicle for him to zoom off. However, luck ran against him as the seller beat his tricks. The suspect confessed to have successfully snatched three vehicles in that manner while in Delta State but this is his first attempt in the State.
“On August 12, at about 2340hours, one Emmanuel Nwankwo of Aba raised a distress call that three men armed with guns and machete stormed his house, held him hostage and robbed him of his Tecno GSM phones and other valuables. Based on the call, patrol team attached to Central Police Station in Aba, raced to the scene where the duo of Chima Ukah and Nmesoma Ozoemena were arrested. The suspects confessed to the crime and all the stolen items were recovered from them.
“On August 11, at about 1045hours, one Anumba Ozoemelam of Ugorji Street, Aba, reported at Central Police Station in Aba that he met one Johnson on Social Media, that after chatting for few days, the said Johnson invited him to a birthday party on August 10; that when he arrived at No. 24 Ibegbulam Street, off Omuma Road in Aba, the said Johnson sent a vehicle to pick him up at the junction to his house; that on arrival at the house, he was forced to surrender all his belongings, thoroughly beaten up and his GSM phone was used to call his elder brother demanding ransom of N5million before he will be released.
“The hoodlums also took him to his house where they ransacked his room and made away with the sum of N10, 000 seen in his wardrobe, but he managed to escape at midnight in their den while they were asleep. In response to the report, the DPO Central Police Station in Aba immediately swung into action by analyzing the GSM number of the suspect which aided in the arrest of one Prince Agorom, the leader of the syndicate on August 12 at about 0015hours. The suspect has confessed to the crime and identified himself as leader of a four man syndicate. Effort is in progress towards arresting other members of the gang.
“On August 15, at about 1900hours, surveillance team attached to Central Police Station in Aba, while on patrol along Hospital Road, Aba, intercepted one Timothy Jonathan suspiciously coming out from an apartment in possession of one changeover, bundle of keys and two GSM phones. On interrogation, he confessed to have burgled an apartment, whose occupant was later identified as Ngozi Kalu, with a master key in the absence of the occupant and carted away those items. Investigation is in progress to recover other items the suspect confessed to have disposed recently.
“On August 13, at about 2230hours, a distress call was received from one Brown Nnamdi of Aba that at about 2130hours, while in his shop at No. 6 Bende Street in Aba, he was robbed, at gunpoint by four men armed with guns and machete, of the sum of N300, 000, one Gionee PJ phone and other valuables. In a swift response, patrol team attached to Central Police Station Aba raced to the scene where one Ejiagba Michael was arrested with a machete. The suspect has confessed to the crime and is giving a lead to the arrest of other members of the gang.
“On August 3, at about 2228hours, personnel of 55PMF Aba on stop and search duty at Tonimas Nipping Point, while acting on a tip-off, arrested one Anyanwu Diala Chidi of Mbaise, in Imo State living in Ariaria Area in Aba. During search on the suspect, the sum of N108,810, three packets of Eva soap, three packets of Ivory soap, three packets of Joy soap, three packets of Fancy soap, two Imperial Leather soap, one Dettol soap, two padlocks with keys, one torch light and a tin of Powdered Peak Milk were recovered. The suspect and exhibits recovered were transferred for discreet investigation. Efforts are on top gear toward the arrest of his two accomplices.
“On August 5, at about 0545hours, patrol team attached to Ndiegoro Division while on routine patrol of Park Road in Aba, accosted one Sunday Eze of No. 14 Ukaegbu Street, Aba, with a big yellow generating set which account, the suspect was unable to give. The suspect was arrested and taken to the Police Station where he confessed to have stolen the generating set from a Cyber Café on Judges Road, Aba. He, however, led the investigating team to the scene where the owner, one Vivian Goodluck of No. 14 Constitution Crescent Aba was identified.”
0