The Anambra State Police Command has arrested members of a criminal gang linked to the attack on the convoy of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, with two suspects killed during a gun battle with police operatives.
The police described the operation as a major breakthrough in the fight against crime and efforts to protect lives and property across the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, acted on credible intelligence and laid an ambush on a five-man gang at the Enugwu Agidi junction.
According to him, the suspects were believed to be armed robbers and cultists with links to a proscribed secessionist group.
Ikenga said the suspects opened fire on sighting the operatives, leading to a prolonged gun battle.
“During the exchange, which lasted about two hours, two of the armed suspects sustained fatal gunshot injuries, while three others escaped with varying degrees of injuries,” he said.
He disclosed that several items were recovered from the scene, including one T.06 rifle, two pump-action guns, 24 rounds of T.06 ammunition, 15 live cartridges, assorted criminal charms, a red beret linked to cult activities, and a black Toyota Highlander vehicle.
The police spokesperson revealed that one of the suspects, before he died, confessed to the gang’s involvement in the earlier attack on Senator Ngige’s convoy.
Ikenga said the suspect also admitted that the gang belonged to the strike squad of the Vikings confraternity and was on a revenge mission following the killing of one of its members by a rival cult group.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Ikioye Orutugu, praised the operatives for their bravery and professionalism during the operation.
He directed them to intensify efforts to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.
The police commissioner also appealed to hospitals and other health facilities to treat persons with gunshot wounds, but to immediately report such cases to the nearest police station for investigation.
