Ikenga said the suspects, believed to be armed robbers and cultists with links to a proscribed secessionist group, opened fire on the operatives upon sighting them.
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – Anambra State Police Command has arrested members of a criminal gang connected to the recent attack on the convoy of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, with two suspects killed during a gun battle with security operatives.
The police described the operation as a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to rid the state of criminal elements and strengthen public safety.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Tochukwu Ikenga, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, acting on credible intelligence, laid an ambush for a five-man gang at the Enugwu Agidi Junction.
Ikenga said the suspects, believed to be armed robbers and cultists with links to a proscribed secessionist group, opened fire on the operatives upon sighting them, leading to a prolonged exchange of gunfire.
“During the gun battle, 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.
The police spokesperson disclosed that operatives recovered 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 from the scene.
Ikenga further revealed that one of the suspects, before he died, confessed to the gang’s involvement in the earlier attack on Senator Ngige’s convoy. The suspect also admitted being a member of the strike squad of the Vikings confraternity, allegedly carrying out a retaliatory mission following the killing of one of their members by a rival cult group.
Commending the operatives for their gallantry, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Ikioye Orutugu, directed officers to intensify efforts to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.
He also called on hospitals and other medical facilities in the state to promptly report cases of individuals presenting with gunshot injuries to the nearest police station, while ensuring such persons receive necessary medical attention.