Kamsi Anayo, Awka
A combined team of Anambra State security operatives has arrested a 25 year-old lady and male counterpart for armed robbery in Oko community, Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.
SP Ikenga Tochukwu, Spokesman for the State Police Command confirmed the arrest in a statement on Wednesday.
He said a joint security team, comprising Police Operatives from Oko Divisional Headquarters and Operatives of AVG Amaokpala, acting on intelligence information, arrested one Michael Chinweze, aka “Small,” 20 years old, a native of Iwollo, Eziagu Local Government Council of Enugu State, and Mmesoma Agba, 25 years old, from Enugwu-Nanka, same Orumba North LGA.
“The security operatives also recovered one pump-action gun, one mobile phone, a black handbag, and two small glasses suspected to be used for inhaling hard drugs,” he said.
According to him, the arrest followed a reported incident on Jan. 22, at the Police Station.
“The suspects, along with one other person still at large, allegedly dispossessed a victim of her personal belongings around Oko Community Hospital,” he added.
Ikenga stated that the suspects forcibly took the victim’s items at gunpoint, stating that the stolen items included a red motorcycle with registration number WER 137 GV, valued at N1,300,000, a bag containing one Techno mobile phone, an ATM card, and the sum of N38,000, which was allegedly obtained from the victim’s daily business at her shop.
He said that during interrogation, Michael confessed to the crime and stated that he had stolen the gun from a security post at a hotel in Amaokpala.
Ikenga revealed that preliminary information indicated that Mmesoma’s (a mother of two) first husband was previously neutralized by the police in a gun battle with gang members during a criminal operation.
He noted that the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka.
Ikenga added that the CP has charged the operatives to intensify efforts in arresting the other suspects who are currently on the run.
