The Enugu State Police Command has successfully dismantled an interstate criminal syndicate engaged in armed robbery and financial fraud, following a series of coordinated operations.
The crackdown led to the arrest of eight male suspects, including a dismissed soldier, and the recovery of firearms, ammunition, cash, and other stolen valuables.
The operation, which began on November 12, 2024, at around 3:30 am, involved the Emene Division, Crack and Octopus Tactical Squads, and the Neighbourhood Watch Group.
A statement made available to DAILY GAZETTE on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Command, Daniel Ndukwe, revealed that officers responded to a distress call about an armed robbery at an estate in Emene.
One suspect, Ismaila Isah, 23, was arrested at the scene, with a locally made pistol, ₦300,450 in cash, and several stolen items in his possession.
Following Isah’s arrest, investigations led to the identification and capture of additional members of the syndicate, including Sadik Ahmed, 28, a dismissed soldier; Abbas Usman, 33; Mubarak Garba, 24; Abubakar Haruna, 23; Abubakar Sani, 32; Obiri Chukwuebuka, 22; and Bright Omeniru, 22.
The statement added that the police recovered two more locally made pistols, ten laptops, ten mobile phones, assorted jewelry and watches, one MP3 player, power banks, and various personal items.
According to Ndukwe, the syndicate had been involved in multiple armed robberies across Enugu, using stolen SIM cards to fraudulently withdraw funds from victims’ bank accounts.
The syndicate operated not only within Enugu but also across state lines, including Imo State, where two members were apprehended in Owerri.
Sadik Ahmed, the dismissed soldier, reportedly used his security background to bypass checkpoints during the transportation of stolen goods across state borders.
The suspects further confessed to selling the stolen proceeds in different states, including Imo.
The police are continuing their investigation and will soon arraign the suspects in court.
Enugu State’s Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, commended the operatives for their diligent work and urged them to continue their efforts in combating crime, especially during the festive season.
