Operatives of the Owerri Urban Divisional Police headquarters, Imo State, in conjunction with local vigilante group have arrested a suspected armed robber, Izea John Chukwuebuka, 23.
Spokesperson for Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), disclosed this in a statement yesterday.
According to him, the suspect was nabbed at Alaba Market, Owerri, following credible intelligence and painstaking investigative efforts by the operatives.
He noted that arms and ammunition were also recovered from the suspect.
Okoye, who stressed that the arrest was a well coordinated operation with the local vigilantes on April 9, said the suspect confessed to having robbed unsuspecting members of the public at Alaba International Market, Douglas Market, Tetlow, and other businesses areas in the state.
“He admitted that he has a syndicate in Ama Hausa Market that receives stolen items from him in exchange for monetary gains.
“Members of the suspect’s syndicate are on the run and on the wanted list, while efforts are underway to apprehend his syndicates at large, particularly the receivers of stolen items, sellers and manufacturers of locally made guns.
“The suspect will be transferred to the State Headquarters for consolidation of the ongoing investigation and will certainly face prosecution upon completion of a thorough investigation,” Okoye said.
The statement added that CP Aboki Danjuma has reassured business owners and other residents in Imo State that the Command will continue to redouble its efforts in providing a safe and secure environment for socio-economic activities to thrive in the State.
He affirmed that the Command is unrelenting in its commitment to clamp down on unrepentant criminal syndicates in the state.
