How we arrested 10 suspects in N390m van robbery – Police
Police in Abia State arrested 10 gang members who allegedly robbed a bullion van on July 26 and took away around 390 million naira.
State Police Commissioner Janet Agbede said the suspects belong to a 14-member gang that specializes in stealing vans in different parts of the country.
She said they were arrested at different times and places in Abia, Delta, Lagos, Ondo, Rivers and Imo State.
Parading the suspects to reporters at police headquarters in Umuahia on Monday, she said the arrest was made possible by “a special intelligence investigation team, led by technology.”
She said the team was set up following the July attack which occurred at Ntigha Junction on the Isialangwa axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt highway.
Ms Agbede said: "I have carefully studied their modus operandi and put in place a state-of-the-art special intelligence investigation team with a clear directive to stop and recover the weapons used by the murderous armed gang.
"The squad began the operation systematically, with speed and precision."
According to her, the team's efforts led to the arrests of the suspects at different locations and days.
Ms Agbede said the suspects confessed to the crime in their statements to the police.
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She said the suspects confessed to stealing bullion vans from Ajah in Lagos, Akure Road in Ondo State, Asaba and Mbaise in Imo.
The suspects confessed that the Abia attack was carried out after successfully mounting a roughly two-month surveillance on the bullion van, the police commissioner said.
The suspects, including Adesoji Adeniyi, also known as "Soji", and Albert Nwachukwu, also known as "White", were arrested in Lagos State.
The others were Felix Ajalaja, Moshood Opeyemi, also known as "Abiola", and Azubuike Amaefule, also known as "Zubby", arrested in Rivers.
The others were Nnamdi Nwaosu, also known as "Prophet", Monday Samuel, also known as "MD", and Matthew Christmas, also known as "Aluwa", respectively arrested in Imo , Ondo and Delta.
The other suspects were two brothers from Abia, Chikwendu and Prosper Israel, arrested in Abia.
Prosper told reporters that he joined his brother in criminal activities after he was fired from the State Security Service.
Weapons recovered from the suspects included a general purpose machine gun with 53 rounds of live ammunition, 13 AK47 rifles with 1,749 live ammunition and two improvised dynamites.
Others were custom-cut double-barreled pistols, five active rounds and 84 AK47 magazines.
Officers also seized a Mercedes Benz truck that was allegedly used by the gang to conceal their firearms.
They also recovered 10.1 million naira from the suspects out of the 390 million naira allegedly stolen from the bullion van.
The police commissioner said the investigation is still ongoing to ensure the arrest of other gang members.
NAN recalls that the affected van was transporting money from a bank in Aba to Umuahia, when it ran into a blockade set up by thieves.
Police confirmed that the robbers shot and killed the bank teller, while three officers were shot and wounded.
They also confirmed that police shot and killed one of the gang members in a shootout.
Meanwhile, Ms. Agbede called on the people of Abia to continue assisting the police with useful and timely information to enable them to take proactive measures in the fight against crime.
(NAN)
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Police in Abia State arrested 10 gang members who allegedly robbed a bullion van on July 26 and took away around 390 million naira.
State Police Commissioner Janet Agbede said the suspects belong to a 14-member gang that specializes in stealing vans in different parts of the country.
She said they were arrested at different times and places in Abia, Delta, Lagos, Ondo, Rivers and Imo State.
Parading the suspects to reporters at police headquarters in Umuahia on Monday, she said the arrest was made possible by “a special intelligence investigation team, led by technology.”
She said the team was set up following the July attack which occurred at Ntigha Junction on the Isialangwa axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt highway.
Ms Agbede said: "I have carefully studied their modus operandi and put in place a state-of-the-art special intelligence investigation team with a clear directive to stop and recover the weapons used by the murderous armed gang.
"The squad began the operation systematically, with speed and precision."
According to her, the team's efforts led to the arrests of the suspects at different locations and days.
Ms Agbede said the suspects confessed to the crime in their statements to the police.
READ ALSO:
She said the suspects confessed to stealing bullion vans from Ajah in Lagos, Akure Road in Ondo State, Asaba and Mbaise in Imo.
The suspects confessed that the Abia attack was carried out after successfully mounting a roughly two-month surveillance on the bullion van, the police commissioner said.
The suspects, including Adesoji Adeniyi, also known as "Soji", and Albert Nwachukwu, also known as "White", were arrested in Lagos State.
The others were Felix Ajalaja, Moshood Opeyemi, also known as "Abiola", and Azubuike Amaefule, also known as "Zubby", arrested in Rivers.
The others were Nnamdi Nwaosu, also known as "Prophet", Monday Samuel, also known as "MD", and Matthew Christmas, also known as "Aluwa", respectively arrested in Imo , Ondo and Delta.
The other suspects were two brothers from Abia, Chikwendu and Prosper Israel, arrested in Abia.
Prosper told reporters that he joined his brother in criminal activities after he was fired from the State Security Service.
Weapons recovered from the suspects included a general purpose machine gun with 53 rounds of live ammunition, 13 AK47 rifles with 1,749 live ammunition and two improvised dynamites.
Others were custom-cut double-barreled pistols, five active rounds and 84 AK47 magazines.
Officers also seized a Mercedes Benz truck that was allegedly used by the gang to conceal their firearms.
They also recovered 10.1 million naira from the suspects out of the 390 million naira allegedly stolen from the bullion van.
The police commissioner said the investigation is still ongoing to ensure the arrest of other gang members.
NAN recalls that the affected van was transporting money from a bank in Aba to Umuahia, when it ran into a blockade set up by thieves.
Police confirmed that the robbers shot and killed the bank teller, while three officers were shot and wounded.
They also confirmed that police shot and killed one of the gang members in a shootout.
Meanwhile, Ms. Agbede called on the people of Abia to continue assisting the police with useful and timely information to enable them to take proactive measures in the fight against crime.
(NAN)
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.Donate
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