…Recovered weapons linked to cult groups, armed robbery operations

The Enugu State Police Command has detained a 39-year-old suspected firearm repairer and six other individuals in multiple coordinated operations targeting illegal arms syndicates and cult-linked criminal activities across the state.

Spokesman of the Command, Superintendent Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, saying the arrests and recoveries were the result of intelligence-led operations carried out between June 15 and June 21 under the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa.

According to the statement, the raids led to the recovery of seven firearms, one expended cartridge, two live cartridges, and several incriminating tools used for illegal firearm production and repairs.

On June 21, operatives of the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad arrested a 25-year-old suspect at 9th Mile, recovering a cut-to-size double-barrelled gun with one expended cartridge. 

The arrest followed the confession of three earlier apprehended suspects who admitted to being members of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity and confessed to using the recovered weapon in previous criminal activities.

In another operation conducted on June 17, the same squad arrested a 22-year-old suspect based on the confession of the suspected firearm technician, who had earlier been arrested for links to armed robbery and cultism. 

The operation led to the recovery of one locally-made Beretta-style pistol, two double-barrelled pistols, a single-barrel pistol, an English-made chamber, and a complete toolkit used for firearm repairs.

The police said the self-confessed technician admitted to being a member of the Black Axe Confraternity and claimed responsibility for maintaining weapons used by cult gangs and criminals.

Further raids conducted between June 15 and 20 in black spots located in Nkanu West and Enugu North LGAs by a joint SWAT and Octopus Tactical team resulted in the arrest of another 39-year-old suspect, from whom a locally-fabricated Beretta-style pistol was recovered.

During the same operation, a cut-to-size gun and two live cartridges were also recovered from fleeing suspects who abandoned their weapons while escaping arrest.

SP Ndukwe confirmed that all suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.