By David Ukason Abakaliki
Operatives of the Ebonyi state Police Command have arrested 60 suspects allegedly involved in different crimes in the state.
Parading the suspects in Abakaliki the
State commissioner for Police Aliyu Garba said the command recovered different assorted firearms, ammunition, charms and live tortoise.
He declared that the suspects were nabbed following intelligence gathering by concerted efforts from the Police and Ebubeagu security outfit
He said that the suspects were arrested on grounds of conspiracy, armed robbery, murder, arson, among other crimes in the state.
The Police commissioner said they were responsible for attacks on police stations, killing of its personnel and destruction of facilities belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission and other Public institutions in the state.
He said: At about 1830hrs of *23/5/2021,* while acting on credible information suspected criminals were meeting at Agubia Ikwo in the resident of one *Ebube Ivom* 'm' age 31yrs, The said meeting had in attendance a Cross River State based native doctor *(Ezemuo)*, who was invited to fortify members of the group with marks on different parts of their bodies, as antidotes to bullets in preparation to attack Onueke Divisional Headquarters and INEC office both in Ezza South Local Government Area of the State by *8:30pm* of same day, *23th May, 2021.*
"On the strength of the information, the command swiftly deployed team of Police Operatives in collaboration with Neighborhood watch of Ikwo, in the process thirty-nine (39) male suspects, made up of indigenes of Ebonyi State and two non indigenes from neighboring Abia State were arrested and Large quantities of juju charms were recovered from them together with living creatures such as Tortoise and hawk".
"Eight (8) of these suspects made useful statements to the Police, while one of them, *Elom Daniel* 'm' age 17yrs took Police Operatives to their hideout at Agbaja-Izzi community in Abakaliki Local Government Area of the State, where the owner of the house escaped leaving behind his wife and a child. Upon intensive search of the house/premises, the following items were recovered;
One (1) Ak 47 Riffle with Thirty-five (35) live ammunitions, Two (2) AR Riffles with Eight (8) live ammunitions, Eight (8) magazines, Two (2) locally fabricated Improvised Explosive (tested and certified), Five (5) Machetes,One Police belt and Some Juju charms.
"Elom Daniel* narrated that he specialized in drawing the map of any planned area to be attacked by the group before execution; he further admitted that the meeting at their State Sector commander's resident was to attack Onueke Divisional Headquarters, INEC office and Ebube-Agu Security Outfit on the date mentioned above"
"Elom* further stated that his group was responsible for the attack on the Army checkpoint at Amasiri in Afikpo North Local Government Area on *26th March, 2021* where two Army officers were killed and their Rifles taken away. He also claimed that his group was responsible for the attack on Central Police Station Abakaliki during the #ENDSARS protests, where a Police Inspector and one other were killed and the inspector’s rifle carted away. One of the AK 47 rifle recovered when crossed checked was found to be the same Police Rifle that was stolen by the hoodlums from the late Inspector at the Central Police Station Abakaliki during the said #ENDSARS protests".
*"Elom Daniel* further narrated that his gang were also responsible for the attack at Onueke Police Station on *8th January, 2021* which claimed the lives of three Policemen and the attack on Nigeria Police Force Animal branch Personnel attached to Agricultural Quarantine checkpoint, along Donkey Market Ezzangbo in Ohaukwu L.G.A of the State on *23rd March, 2021* where two (2) Assault rifles were carted away by the hoodlums. The two rifles are among the recovered rifles".
"In a follow-up investigation, *Elom Daniel* led the Operatives to another Kingpin hideout who on sighting the Police took to flight, and in an attempt to maim him, was grievously wounded, the suspect was rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki *(FETHA)* where he gave up the ghost and his remains deposited at the same hospital mortuary for preservation".
"Again, following the attack on Ugbodo Police Divisional Headquarters in Ebonyi Local Government Area of the State on the *22nd May, 2021* which our officers gallantly repelled and two of the hoodlums including a dismissed soldier by name *Israel Onyibe* a native Mmbamili-Nkaliki in Ebonyi Local Government Area of the State were shot dead and one AK-47 rifle was recovered from him while two (2) Policemen paid the supreme price.
Police operatives from this Command on credible intelligence arrested four (4) male suspects in connection with the attack, namely; Joseph Nwali, Ozigbo Jonah* aka *Ojukwu*, Nwankwo Jacob* and Nwali Chibueze* all of Amachi-Igbegu in Izzi Local Government Area of the State.
"Jonah Ozibo* aka *Ojukwu* admitted to the crime and led the Police operatives to their hideout at Amachi-Igbegu to apprehend their gang members, in the process, one *Ebuka Urehu* and other members, on sighting the Police engaged them in gun duel and during the encounter, *Ebuka Urehu* met his water-lo while others escaped with bullet wounds. One Ak-47 rifle with thirty (30) around of ammunitions and other incriminating items were recovered".
"In yet another development, a notorious hoodlum by name *Nwite Okechukwu* aka *(More Money)* was arrested and led the Operatives to their hideout at Mile 50 Abakaliki wherein the following items recovered, One AK 47 rifle, One (1) Assault rifle (AR), One (1) locally made Pistol, One (1) machete, Two (2) Jackknives and Assorted charms".
"The AK 47 Rifle breech number was crossed checked and found to be the same Police Rifle that was carted away by the hoodlums from Mobile Police Personnel killed at Ugbodo Divisional Headquarters, on *22nd May, 2021."
"In a follow-up investigation, *Ozibo Jonah* aka *Ojukwu* further led the Operatives to another hideout at Umuezeoka Community in Ezza North Government Local Area and Amike-aba in Ebonyi Local Government Area both of the State where the gang members opened fire on sighting the Police. During the exchange of firing one Obinna Uwah was fatally wounded while others escaped with bullet injuries. However, Rev Pastor Louis Okoh a native of Oziza in Afikpo North LGA, Jude Mbam, Amos Ofoke and Jude Onyibe were arrested and undergoing investigationx.
The following items now Exhibits were recovered; Two (2) AK 47 rifle, two (2) Assault Rifle (AR), Three (3) Pistols, one English brawny and two locally made.
"One of the suspects *Mbam Jude* aka *“Stanza”* admitted and confessed that his gang members were responsible for the attack and burning of INEC offices in Ebonyi and Ezza North Local Government Areas of the State on *18th May, 2021."
"The suspects among others at large also claimed responsibility of burning Brass Filling Station located at Ogoja Road Abakaliki on *19th May, 2021,* maintaining that it was out of annoyance as their plan to attack *INEC* Headquarters Abakaliki was not successful due to heavy security presence. The suspect concluded that the attack/burning of Fulani Herdsmen settlements located at Agharaozara-Iboko in Izzi LGA and Ozibo Echiaba Community in Ebonyi LGA were also executed by them".
"In a related development, one *Sampson Eze* was arrested at Umuezeokaoha in Ezza North Local Government Area of the State and confessed that himself and others now at large were responsible for the attack and burning of the Federal High Court Abakaliki on *27th April, 2021."*
"One (1) English pistol loaded with eight (8) .9mm ammunitions was recovered from him".
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