The operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Ebonyi State Police Command, have arrested suspects of the Onueke bank robbery, and also intercepted 753 live ammunition of General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) concealed in a sac being transported in a commercial vehicle from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State to Umuahia in Abia State.
According to the statement released on Sunday 2nd May 2021, by the Nigerian Police, the intelligence-driven covert operation, which led to the interception and recovery of the deadly ammunition, is part of efforts by the Force to identify and crackdown on criminal networks and supply chains for weapons and ammunition in and around the country.
The Police in their statement said the comprehensive investigations aimed at bringing to book all persons linked to the crime are ongoing.
While confirming the arrests of suspects of the Onueke bank robbery, the Police stated that following investigations into the foiled Onueke bank robbery which happened in brank of a commercial bank in Ebonyi State on Tuesday, 27th April, 2021; 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. In 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.
Two (2) of the suspects were eventually arrested from the supposedly safe haven – the shrine, which led to the arrest of an 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 Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Usman Alkali Baba, while commending the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Police Command, CP Aliyu Garba and officers of the command,for excellently harnessing intelligence to nip the crimes in the bud, assured citizens of the renewed commitment of the Force to improving public safety and combating all forms of violent crimes across the land.