Police Arrest 13 Suspected Armed Robbers, Cultists In Enugu

The Enugu State Police Command has arrested thirteen suspects in connection with alleged conspiracy, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms, and cult-related activities.

The suspects were apprehended during a series of recent intelligence-led operations, resulting in the recovery of firearms, vehicles and other incriminating items.

Spokesman of the Command, SP Daniel Ndukwe who confirmed the arrests, said operatives of the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad on July 30, 2025, at about 3:40 a.m., stormed Oyofo-Oghe in Ezeagu LGA where three suspects were arrested.

Ndukwe said the suspects Ebuka Odinko, aged 35; Chiemerie Amano, 25; and Onyebuchi Onyekwere, aged 24 were arrested following a confessional statement of a 35-year-old Ekene Akpata.

Police said Akpata was being investigated for conspiracy, armed robbery, unlawful possession of ammunition, and cultism.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects belong a secret cult – Vikings Confraternity and were involved in a series of armed robbery incidents during which they dispossessed residents of their valuables.

sSimilarly, based on the confessional statements of two suspects, Okechukwu Ogbonna, aged 65, from Isuikwuato LGA of Abia State, and Ezeonuji Charles, aged 52, from Aguata LGA of Anambra State, who were under investigation for conspiracy and armed robbery, operatives of the same squad conducted a tactical operation in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, between July 23 and July 28, 2025.

The operation led to the arrest of two more suspects identified as Udofia Richard, aged 43, from Nkimitam in Itu LGA of Akwa Ibom State, and Richard Arinzechukwu Nwaomu, aged 32, from Ezinihitte Mbaise in Imo State.

Two suspected stolen vehicles, a red Toyota Camry XLE with registration number YEN 221 AG and an ash-coloured Kia Soul with registration number PHC 845 AE were recovered from them.

The Police spokesman added that in another operation carried out on July 21, 2025, the same Anti-Cultism operatives arrested three male suspects – Stephen Chidiebere, a.k.a. Shaggy, aged 42; Arinze Udeh, also known as Anonymous, aged 30; and Onuigbo Kingsley, aged 49, in Umuasi Ngwo, Udi Local Government Area where operatives recovered a cut-to-size double-barreled gun.

Their arrest followed the earlier apprehension of a 31-year-old male suspect, Ikemefuna Ani, also known as Majority, who had been arrested in connection with a case of conspiracy, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms, and cultism.

Police disclosed that preliminary investigations linked these suspects to the Black Axe Confraternity.

Ndukwe further stated that in a separate operation conducted on July 15, 2025, at about 10:20 a.m., operatives attached to the Ogui Division, working in synergy with the Neighbourhood Watch Group, arrested a 30-year-old armed robbery suspect, Ifeanyi Ede, and recovered a pistol-like object, later identified as a Spark-L electronic gas lighter.

He stressed that the suspect, armed with the object and his fleeing male accomplice had, at about 2:20 a.m. on the same day, robbed a taxi driver of ₦30,000 cash, his vehicle key, a mobile phone valued at ₦17,000, and his bank ATM card.

“The suspects had boarded the taxi from Independence Layout to Ogui, Enugu. On arrival at their destination, they used the fake gun to rob the driver.

“However, the operatives promptly arrested Ede and recovered the robbed phone, while his accomplice fled,” the PPRO said.

He added that investigations were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect.

He said all cases were under active investigation, and efforts are being intensified to arrest the remaining suspects still at large.

Ndukwe however assured that the cases will be charged to court once the investigations are concluded.