OPERATIVES of Delta State Police Command have nabbed two armed robbery suspects identified as Ozuluonye Okonkwo and Anukwu Joseph for robbing three houses the previous day around Coka in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe stated that 21-year-old Okonkwo was arrested before his gang leader, Joseph, a gun supplier, was arrested.
SP Edafe also mentioned the arrest of a suspected kidnapper, one Ebube Osakwe, who, together with his accomplices, carried out a kidnapping in Egu-Agbor and took their victims to Akoko Edo area of Edo State.
The kidnappers allegedly collected N2.5m ransom from the families of the victims before Ebube Osakwe ran out of luck on Wednesday.
The operatives also arrested a suspected 65-year-old illicit drug dealer identified as David Ikama during a stop-and-search duty along Kwale/Ogwashi-Uku Expressroad.
It was gathered that the vehicle the suspect was driving in was stuffed with drugs such as 1,266, codein syrup, 604 tablets of tramadol, 54 tablets of Swinol, 90 sachets of Rohypnol which were recovered during the search.
The statement read thus: ” On 20/05/2024 at about 02:00 hrs, the Area Command Asaba received complaints that some suspected armed robbers, who robbed three houses the night before, were sighted around Coka in Asaba.
“The Area Command swiftly deployed operatives who went all out for the suspects and arrested one Ozuluonye Okonkwo age 21 yrs.
“Upon interrogation of the suspect, he confessed that he and his gang were responsible for the robbery operation around Coka and its environs.
“His confession led to the arrest of one Anukwu Joseph, while the gang leader, who is also the gun supplier, is at large. Suspects are in custody and investigation is ongoing.
“Acting on technically-generated intelligence on the activities of some suspected kidnappers in Aniocha North LGA, the command deployed operatives led by the Area Commander Asaba, ACP Sunday Oladipo, who stormed the hideout and arrested one Ebube Osakwe age 32 yrs.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect and his gang members (at large) carried out a kidnapping in Egu-Agbor and took their victims to Akoko Edo area in Edo State where they usually collect ransom before releasing their victims.
“Further investigation also revealed that in their last operation, they collected N2.5 million from their victims. Efforts to arrest the other members of the gang are ongoing.
“On 22/5/2024 at about 1700hrs, operatives of Dragon Patrol teams 25 and 31 while on stop-and-search duty along Kwale/Ogwashi-Uku Express road intercepted a white color Toyota Hiace Bus with Reg No. FST 210 XD driven by one David Ikama ‘m’ age 62yrs of 28 old Ekete road Ovwian–Aladja conveying passengers from Onitsha to Warri.
“In their normal proactive way of policing, they subjected the passengers to a search during which some bags stuffed with suspected illicit drugs namely: 1,266 bottles of codeine syrup, 604 tablets of tramadol, 54 tablets of Swinol, 90 sachets of Rohypnol were recovered.
“The suspect, David Ikama, was arrested and taken into custody while investigation is ongoing.
“The Commissioner of Police Delta State CP Olufemi Abaniwonda has directed that all tactical commanders and DPOS deploy all available resources to checkmate the activities of armed robbers, kidnappers, and other criminal elements in the state or risk being removed.
“He further reiterates that resident in the State under his watch must with their two eyes closed.
“Members of the public are advised to reach out to the Command in cases of distress through any of the following dedicated control room numbers; 08036684974, 08125958005, 09053872287.”
