Police Arrest 4 Robbery, Cultism Suspects In Enugu

Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command have arrested four male suspects for conspiracy, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition as well as cultism.

Police said the arrest is in furtherance of the ongoing strategic and proactive crackdown on unrepentant criminals in the state

The spokesman of the Enugu State Police Command, SP Daniel Ndukwe, who confirmed the arrest, said the operations followed credible information.

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.

SP Ndukwe stated that operatives of the Command’s Crack Tactical Squad, in synergy with members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, had on June 22, 2025, around 11:30 a.m., arrested one Esomchi Ugwu, aged 26, and Kosisochukwu Ukwuani, aged 19, at Enugu-Ngwo, Udi local government area of the state.

He said that one single-barrel pistol, a cut-to-size gun and four live cartridges were recovered from them, adding that 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,” he said.

In another operation, Ndukwe said operatives attached to the Command’s New Haven Division, at about 4a.m. on June 23, 2025, responded to a distress call and recovered a gun-like VL-Light electronic gas igniter.

He said 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,” he stated..

Ndukwe disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa 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.