The Imo State Police Command has smashed an armed robbery syndicate that specialized in the robbery of motorbikes and vehicles, as well as attempted murder and five suspects have been arrested for their different roles in the robbery syndicate.
The police spokesperson for the Imo State Command, Henry Okoye, made the disclosure on Sunday while addressing journalists at the Police headquarters in Owerri.
He disclosed that the suspects attempted to bribe police operatives with the sum of ₦5 million to evade arrest, but the offer was rejected.
According to him, investigations by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, led by Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa, resulted in the arrest of five suspects and the recovery of one snatched shuttle bus, 450 motorcycles, the sum of ₦6,495,900, several vehicle plate numbers, and other incriminating exhibits, including criminal charms.
He said a complainant, Chimeze Christian of Urata, Owerri North Local Government Area, owner of Wonder Shuttle, had in a distress call, reported that his driver, Paul Ohaka, who left with a vehicle bearing registration number KPU 26 XA, failed to return as scheduled, prompting the investigation.
However, the missing driver was found abandoned and unconscious at Irete along the Onitsha Road axis, while the vehicle had been forcefully taken by unknown assailants and was rushed to Vadan Hospital, New Owerri, where he is currently receiving medical attention.
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Okoye said police operatives, acting on the report, commenced an investigation which led to the recovery of the missing vehicle, which was about to be repainted in an attempt to conceal its identity.
He said two suspects, Olagoke Jelili and Godday Ezike, were arrested at the scene and are currently under investigation. Further investigation revealed 450 motorcycles in the custody of the suspects, which they failed to account for.
Okoye said “further investigation led to the arrest of Okechukwu Prince and Raymond Odinaka, who confessed to acting on the instructions of a fleeing suspect, Osita Chigbo, alias “Barr. Oguta.” During the operation, Paul Martins Anya, a suspected receiver of stolen vehicles, was also arrested.
“A search of the premises led to the recovery of thirteen motorcycles suspected to be stolen, while follow-up operations resulted in additional recoveries, bringing the total to four hundred and fifty suspected stolen motorcycles and other exhibits.
“The suspects were unable to provide valid proof of ownership for the recovered motorcycles within the period of investigation.
“Rather, the syndicate allegedly attempted to relocate the motorcycles to nearby bush paths in a bid to evade police detection. However, acting on credible intelligence, operatives swiftly intercepted the movement, leading to the large-scale recovery of the motorcycles”.
Okoye said the operation reflects the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and its resolve to ensure that criminal elements have no safe haven within Imo State.
The State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, has directed that all the suspects be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The spokesperson expressed appreciation to members of the public for their continued cooperation and called for sustained support through timely and credible information sharing.
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