Imo police arrest two suspected armed robbers for impersonation
The suspects. PHOTO; Collins Osuji
Operatives of Imo State Police Command have arrested two suspected armed robbery gang members, who impersonated officers to kidnap and rob unsuspecting citizens.
The suspects are Goodness Chinaza, ‘m’, 23 and Emeka Orji, ‘m’, 24, while one of the gang members, Julius Chigozie, escaped when operatives invaded their residence.
The Command’s spokesperson, Micheal Abattam, in a statement, yesterday, said one locally made double barrel shotgun, one Jack knife, police uniforms and bullet proof vests were recovered from them.
According to Abattam, the suspected armed gang, who dressed up in stolen officers’ uniforms, specialised in blocking the roads, checking people’s vehicles as if they are genuine officers while robbing them of their valuables.
“Following a distress call received on July 20 at about 1800 hours, from a robbery victim, who accidentally saw one of the three armed robbers that robbed him of his ash-coloured Lexus 330 Jeep marked: RLU 08 AH on gun point, on July 18 at about 1800hrs along Mbano Street, Aladinma Owerri, Imo State.
They forced him into the booth, took him to a lonely place, robbed him of all his valuables and used his cell phone and transferred the sum of N100,000.00)out of his bank account to one of their accounts.
“The team immediately mobilised and stormed the scene and arrested one Goodness Chinaza ‘m’ residing at Aladinma Owerri, Imo State. On interrogation, he confessed being a member of a robbery gang and admitted robbing the victim.
“He then led police operatives to arrest Emeka Orji ‘m’ aka “COCO” aged 24 of the same address, while Julius Chigozie ‘m’ escaped.
“ On further interrogation, they both revealed where they concealed the robbed vehicle at Rapour Hotel, Amakohia Owerri, lmo State. However, the vehicle was recovered at the station.
“Investigation revealed that the three suspects were residing in a quarter in Aladinma Owerri, where they broke into the apartment of a late police officer in the same quarters, stole his uniforms, bullet proof vests and other valuables. They started using the same to rob innocent citizens.
“Their modus operandi is that they dress up in the stolen uniform, block the road, check vehicles as if they are genuine police officers. Once they see a flashy car, they will stop the driver, requesting for the vehicle particulars. In the bid of giving them the particulars, they will drag him out, put him in the booth of the car and zoom off to a safe place, where they will rob the innocent victim.
“Sometimes, they end up kidnapping the victim for a ransom, until luck ran against them and they were arrested,” he added.
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