Two armed robbery suspects, Ntosi Godfrey, 37, and Nnamdi Raymond, 22, have been taken into custody by Imo State Police Command operations.
They were said to be operating between Umuahia and Owerri axis.
The command also nabbed 25-year-old man, Chibueze Kalu suspected to be a member of a notorious cult group.
Parading the suspects at the Command Headquarters in Owerri, the Spokesperson of the Command, ASP Henry Okoye said that the two suspected armed robbers were arrested by the Tactical Unit of the command while on intelligence-led stop-and-search operation along Owerri-Aba road.
He said the Tactical Unit accosted the suspects in a Green Toyota Golf with registration No: AA775BD Lagos which they allegedly snatched from a victim in Umuahia, adding that “on seeing the police, they opened fire which was rebuffed by the operatives who maneuvered to vintage and returned fire.”
He stated that during the gun duel, one of the suspects sustained bullet injuries and was later taken to a nearby medical hospital for treatment, while the other suspect was arrested.
“On searching the suspects, the operatives recovered one pump action gun, one locally fabricated gun and 10 rounds of live cartridges.
“On interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of a deadly armed robbery syndicate in Umuahia and mentioned one suspect at large,” the release partly stated.
“In another development, the Operatives of Nekede Divisional Headquarters Owerri West LGA in collaboration with the local vigilantes had on July 18, 2024, made an arrest of Chibueze Kalu suspected to belong to a known cult group, Black Axe Confraternity,” he added.
One locally made pistol was also recovered from him after confessing of belonging to the cult group.
Written By Williams Odunze