The Enugu State Police Command says it has recorded fresh successes in its border security operations, foiling an attempted armed robbery, killing one suspect, arresting four others, and recovering two firearms along with suspected illicit drugs and other exhibits.
The operations were carried out at different border locations across the state under the Inspector-General of Police’s “Handshake Patrol” initiative, according to a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe.
In the first operation, on June 28 at about 6:15 a.m., police operatives attached to the Amechi-Idodo Division, working with members of the Neighbourhood Watch, thwarted an armed robbery attempt by a gang that had blocked part of the Enugu–Abakaliki Road to rob commuters.
The Command said the gang, which had long been on its watchlist for robberies along the border road, exchanged gunfire with operatives. Its leader, identified as Ifesinachi Kenneth, was shot and arrested while other members fled. Kenneth later died after being taken for medical treatment.
Police said Kenneth’s confessional statement led to the arrest of Izuchukwu Nwanga, who allegedly kept the gang’s proceeds of crime.
In a separate operation the same day, at about 5:30 p.m., operatives attached to the Umumba Division raided a criminal hideout at Umumba Ndiagu community in Ezeagu Local Government Area, near the Anambra State border, acting on intelligence about an armed robbery gang.
Two suspects, Uwah Ifesinachi Sunday, 23, and Chinonso Okafor Paul, 25, were arrested. Police recovered a locally fabricated pistol, a knife, a pair of scissors, and quantities of substances suspected to be Indian hemp.
In a third incident, at about 10:00 a.m. the same day, operatives of the Command’s Distress Response Squad, conducting a stop-and-search along the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway at Ugwuoba in Oji-River Local Government Area, intercepted a commercial tricycle. A search of passengers led to the recovery of a locally made cut-to-size gun belonging to Ifediri Nwobu, 21, who was arrested after attempting to escape by jumping into a nearby river.
Police said investigations are ongoing to track down other suspects connected to the cases, and that those already arrested will be arraigned in court once investigations are concluded.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended the operatives and Neighbourhood Watch members for their professionalism and collaboration, and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing to curb violent crime along the state’s borders. He urged residents to remain vigilant and law-abiding. #Securitynewsalert.com
