Photo caption: Enugu State Police PRO, DSP Daniel Ndukwe
The Enugu State Police Command has arrested seven suspects linked to cultism and illegal firearms, as seven guns, ammunition, and weapon repair tools were recovered in a recent crackdown across the state.
The suspects were arrested between June 15 and 21, during separate operations carried out in Enugu North, Nkanu West, and 9th Mile areas by tactical units of the Command.
The state Police Command spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, who disclosed this in a statement released on Sunday, said the operations followed credible intelligence and were guided by the crime-fighting strategies of the Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa.
“Operatives of the Command’s Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad and other tactical teams, acting on credible information, arrested seven male suspects and recovered seven firearms, one expended and two live cartridges, and tools used for firearm repairs,” Ndukwe said.
According to him, one of the suspects, Yusuf John, a 25-year-old, was arrested on Saturday at 9th Mile with a cut-to-size double-barrelled gun and one expended cartridge.
His arrest was based on credible intelligence from his syndicate, which claimed they were all members of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity.
“His arrest followed the confessional statements of three earlier-arrested suspects, namely: Ebube Victor, aged 22; Kenechukwu Chiegwu, aged 23; and Tochukwu Kingsley Nwodo, aged 26.
“They all confessed to being members of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity and admitted to using the firearm in the commission of various crimes,” Ndukwe said.
In a separate operation on Tuesday, the operatives arrested a 22-year-old suspect identified as Ugwualor Obumneke, after a confession from Onah Uchenna, who had been arrested for alleged armed robbery and cultism.
Uchenna, whose firearm repair tools were recovered from her, said she uses them to maintain her weapons.
Ndukwe said,” Further investigation led to the recovery of a locally made Beretta-like pistol, two double-barrel and one single-barrel pistols, the chamber of an English-made double-barrel gun, and a set of tools used for firearm repairs.
“The suspects confessed to being members of the Black Axe Confraternity and admitted to using the firearms for criminal activities.
“Onah Uchenna further confessed to owning the repair tools and to specialising in the maintenance of firearms.”
The spokesperson said between June 15 and 20, a joint team from the SWAT and Octopus Tactical Squads raided black spots in Nkanu West and Enugu North LGAs, and arrested Iloh Chukwunonso, who firearms were recovered from.
“A locally fabricated Beretta-like pistol was recovered from him.
“A cut-to-size gun and two live cartridges abandoned by fleeing suspects were also recovered during the operation,” Ndukwe said.
He confirmed that all suspects would be arraigned upon the conclusion of ongoing investigations.
Commending the operatives, the Police Commissioner Giwa said, “The Command remains committed to ridding Enugu State of criminal elements.
“I urge our personnel to remain resolute until the state becomes increasingly uninhabitable for criminals.”
