In furtherance of the ongoing strategic and proactive crackdown on unrepentant criminals, operatives of the Enugu State Police Command have arrested four male suspects for conspiracy, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, and cultism. The arrests, made during multiple credible, intelligence-guided operations, led to the recovery of three firearms and a gun-like VL-Light Electronic Gas Igniter, eight live cartridges, one live 7.62mm calibre ammunition, and other incriminating exhibits.

Acting on credible information, operatives of the Command’s Crack Tactical Squad, in synergy with members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, on June 22, 2025, around 11:30 a.m., arrested one Esomchi Ugwu (male, aged 26) and Kosisochukwu Ukwuani (male, aged 19) at Enugu-Ngwo, Udi Local Government Area. One single-barrelled pistol, a cut-to-size gun and four live cartridges were recovered from them. The suspects confessed to being members of the Black Axe Confraternity.

Similarly, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad, on June 22, 2025, at about 3:45 a.m., recovered one locally made single-barrelled pistol, one live 7.62mm calibre ammunition, and four live cartridges. The items were concealed in a cooking pot by one Ogbodo Friday Onyekachi (male), who fled his residence at Ndiaga-Ugwuaji, Enugu South LGA, upon sighting the operatives. The fleeing suspect is linked to an ongoing investigation involving conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, and cultism, following the confessional statement of his accomplice, 26-year-old Izuchukwu Anyanwu Gabriel (alias “Onye-Amuma”), who had been earlier arrested.

In another operation, operatives attached to the Command’s New Haven Division, at about 4:00 a.m. on June 23, 2025, responded to a distress call and recovered a gun-like VL-Light Electronic Gas Igniter. The device was abandoned by fleeing suspects, who had used it to simulate a firearm while perpetrating their criminal acts. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the suspects.

The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, psc, has commended the operatives for their dedication and urged all supervising officers and operatives to sustain the momentum and intensify efforts in proactively combating crime across the State.