The operatives of the Ebonyi State Police Command have intercepted 753 GPMG ammunition being transported from Abakaliki ,Ebonyi State to Umuahia in Abia State.
Similarly, five Onuwke Commercial Bank Robbers have been arrested by the command.
A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba on Sunday said the arrests were part of the intelligence driven covert operations of the force as part of it’s effort to crack down on criminal networks and supply chains for weapons.
According to the statement, the 753 live ammunition of General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) intercepted were concealed in a sac being transported in a commercial vehicle from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State to Umuahia in Abia State.
He said that comprehensive investigations aimed at bringing to book all persons linked to the crime are ongoing.
Mba said the bank Robbers were arrested following investigations into the foiled bank robbery on the Onueke branch of a commercial bank in Ebonyi State which occurred on Tuesday, 27th April, 2021.
He said ” Police operatives led by the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, on 29th April, 2021, stormed the criminal hideout of suspects indicted in the investigations located at Oriuzo village in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
” The suspects on sighting the Police squad, opened fire on them. The Police team engaged them gallantly and professionally.
“At the end, three (3) members of the gang including two (2) male and one (1) female met their waterloo following bullet injuries sustained during the exchange of gunfire.
“Other suspects fled in different directions.
” Two (2) Ak47 riffles, five (5) pump action guns, six (6) pistols, fifty (50) Ak47 ammunition, one hundred and twenty-six (126) cartridges, Jack knives, cutlasses, and a 40-page notebook containing inventories of ammunition purchased by the gang were recovered.
” A Honda Pilot Jeep with Reg No. ABJ 163 NV used for the foiled bank robbery was also recovered by the Police Team.
Mba further explained that their unrelenting quest to apprehend the remaining suspects led the Police team to a shrine where the robbers usually go for mystical powers before embarking on their robbery operations.
Their ” Two (2) of the suspects were eventually arrested from the supposedly safe haven – the shrine, which led to the arrest of additional three (3) members of the gang. Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the gang and their spiritual godfather – the chief priest of the shrine.
The Acting Inspector General of Police , Usman Alkali Baba, commended the State Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba and officers of the command, for excellently harnessing intelligence to nip the crimes in the bud.
He assured citizens of the renewed commitment of the Force to improving public safety and combating all forms of violent crimes across the land.
