Police Arrests Dismissed Soldier, Dismantles Inter State Criminal Gang In Enugu

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Enugu State Commissioner of Police Kanayo Uzuegbu, has charged personnel of the State Command to keep the momentum against criminal elements  in the State.

CP Uzuegbu who was reacting to the dismantling of a notorious inter state criminal gang urged operatives to go the whole hog in ensuring a hitch- free festive period in the State.

A statement on Saturday December, 7, 2024, from the Enugu State Command Spokesperson Daniel Ndukwe, informed that the dismantling of the criminal group that specializes in armed robbery and financial fraud was coordinated by the combined efforts of the Emene police formation, Crack Tactical Squad, Octopus Tactical Squad and the Neighborhood Watch Group.

The operations resulted in the arrest of eight members of the criminal gang, and the recovery of a large catche of firearms, ammunition, cash and other suspected stolen items.

Among the arrested members of the group is  a dismissed soldier, Sadiq Ahmed who oversees the transportation of stolen items across states for onward sales.

“The operations began on November, 12, 2024, at around 3.30.am, when Operatives from Emene Division, supported by Neighborhood Watch members

responded to a distress call about an armed robbery at an estate in Emene.

During this operation, one Ismaila Isah was apprehended with one locally made pistol, the cash of N300,450 and some stolen items although several accomplices managed to escape.

Ismaila was subsequently transferred to the Crack Tactical Squad for further investigation. His confessional statements and careful investigations led to the arrest of Sadiq Ahmed, Abbas Usman, Mubarak Garba, Abubakar Haruna and Abubakar Sani at their hideouts in New Garki, Awkunanaw, Enugu where another locally made pistol and additional stolen items were seized”, the Police statement noted.

According to  Ndukwe, two other members of the gang, Bright Omeniru and Obiri Chukwuebuka, were apprehended in Owerri, the Imo state capital by the Octopus Tactical Squad following actionable intelligence .

During interrogation, according to the statement, the duo confessed to using Mobile phones stolen by the syndicate to fraudulently access victims’ bank accounts.

“Two SIM cards from different networks were also recovered from them.

Investigations indicate that the suspects admitted to committing multiple armed robberies within  Enugu metropolis and used victims mobile phone SIM cards to perpetrate acts of fraud.

They further acknowledged moving and selling the stolen items in Imo and other States. Sadiq Ahmed ,the dismissed soldier,  admitted to leveraging his background as a former security agent to evade checkpoints while transporting stolen items across state lines”, part of the statement reads .

The Command’s spokesman informed that the suspects will be arraigned as soon as investigations are concluded .

This is even as CP Uzuegbu commended the operatives of the various tactical and special formations for their diligence.