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The Enugu police command says it has arrested eight suspects who specialise in armed robbery and fraud in the state.
In a statement on Saturday, Daniel Ndukwe, Enugu police spokesperson, said one of the suspects identified as Sadik Ahmed was a dismissed soldier.
Ndukwe noted that the operation, which began on November 12, was carried out by the joint effort of Emene division, Crack Tactical Squad , Octopus Tactical Squads, and the Neighbourhood Watch Group.
He said the suspects are Ismaila Isah, 23; Abbas Usman, 33; Mubarak Garba, 24; Abubakar Haruna 23; Abubakar Sani 32; Obiri Chukwuebuka 22; and Bright Omeniru, 22.
“The Enugu State Police Command has successfully dismantled an interstate criminal syndicate specialised in armed robbery and financial fraud,” the statement reads.
“Items recovered are ten laptops, land documents, ten mobile phones, assorted jewellery and watches, one MP3 player, one headphone, four power banks, two SIM cards, footwear, and bags.
“During the operation, Ismaila Isah was apprehended with one locally made pistol, ₦300,450.00, and some stolen items, while others escaped.
“His confessional statements and subsequent discreet investigations led to the arrest of Sadik Ahmed, Abbas Usman, Mubarak Garba, Abubakar Haruna, and Abubakar Sani at their hideouts in New Garriki, Awkunanaw, Enugu. Another locally made pistol and additional stolen items were recovered.”
The police spokesperson said the operatives also recovered two locally made pistols loaded with a live and expended cartridge, laptops, land documents, among others items.
He added that the suspects confessed to using the stolen phones to fraudulently withdraw funds from victims bank accounts.
“During interrogation, they admitted to using phones stolen by the syndicate to fraudulently withdraw funds from victims bank accounts. Two SIM cards from different networks were also recovered,” Ndukwe said.
“Investigations reveal that the suspects confessed to committing multiple armed robberies within the Enugu metropolis and using the victims’ mobile phones’ SIM cards to also commit acts of fraud.
“They further confessed to moving and selling the stolen proceeds in Imo and other States. Sadik Ahmed, the dismissed soldier, admitted to exploiting his background as a former security agent to bypass checkpoints during the interstate shipment of the stolen items.”
Kanayo Uzoegbe, the commissioner of police in the state, commended the operatives for their effort, adding that the suspects will be arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigations.
