Police arrest four suspects, recover firearms, ammunition in Enugu
...Cult members, armed robbers apprehended in crackdown
The Enugu State Police Command has arrested four suspects and recovered firearms, ammunition, and other incriminating items during separate sting operations as part of its ongoing crackdown on violent crime across the state.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed the development in a statement on Wednesday, noting that the suspects were linked to offences including armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms, conspiracy, and cultism.
According to the statement, police operatives acting on credible intelligence, alongside members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, arrested Esomchi Ugwu (26) and Kosisochukwu Ukwuani (19) on June 22 at Enugu-Ngwo in Udi Local Government Area.
“One single-barrelled pistol, a cut-to-size gun, and four live cartridges were recovered from the suspects,” Ndukwe said.
The two men reportedly confessed to being members of the Black Axe Confraternity.
In a separate operation conducted by the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad on the same day at about 3:45 a.m., a locally-made single-barrelled pistol, one live 7.62mm calibre ammunition, and four live cartridges were recovered from a suspect who escaped after sighting the police.
The fleeing suspect, Friday Ogbodo, allegedly concealed the weapons inside a cooking pot at his residence in Ndiagu-Ugwuaji, Enugu South LGA. His accomplice, Izuchukwu Anyanwu (26), had earlier been arrested and provided confessional statements linking both men to multiple offences.
In yet another operation, officers from the New Haven Division responded to a distress call around 4 a.m. on June 23, recovering a gun-like VL-Light Electronic Gas Igniter—a device the fleeing suspects had used to simulate a firearm during their criminal activities.
SP Ndukwe confirmed that investigations are ongoing, and efforts have been intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspects involved in the reported incidents.
The command reiterated its commitment to sustaining the momentum of its anti-crime campaign and called on residents to continue providing timely and credible information.