The Enugu State Police Command arrested 13 male suspects over armed robbery, cultism, and unlawful possession of firearms in July.

The state police spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement on Thursday that the command’s  Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad arrested the suspects.

Mr Ndukwe said that officers, at about 3:40 a.m. on July 30, acted on confessions by 35-year-old Ekene Akpata, aka Odumodu, and stormed Oyofo-Oghe in Ezeagu Local Government Area.

He said the police arrested three suspects, Ebuka Odinko, 35; Chiemerie Amano, 25; and Onyebuchi Onyekwere, 24, after an investigation showed they were members of the Vikings Confraternity, committing armed robbery.

Mr Ndukwe stated that confessions by 65-year-old Okechukwu Ogbonna from Isuikwuato in Abia State and 52-year-old Ezeonuji Charles from Aguata in Anambra State prompted operatives to conduct a tactical operation in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, between July 23 and 28.

He said, “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,” were nabbed with “a red Toyota Camry XLE with registration number YEN 221 AG and an ash-coloured Kia Soul with registration number PHC 845 AE.”

Mr Ndukwe stated that on July 21, 42-year-old Stephen Chidiebere, aka Shaggy; 30-year-old Arinze Udeh, aka Anonymous; and 49-year-old Onuigbo Kingsley in Umuasi Ngwo, Udi LGA, were arrested with a cut-to-size double-barreled gun, following the earlier arrest of 31-year-old Ikemefuna Ani, aka Majority, all of whom investigation linked to Black Axe Confraternity.

He also stated that Ogui Divisional Command and the Neighbourhood Watch Group, at about 10:20 a.m., on July 15, “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.”

The police spokesperson said the suspect and fleeing accomplices used the fake gun to rob a “taxi driver of ₦30,000 cash, his vehicle key, a mobile phone valued at ₦17,000, and his bank ATM card,” after they boarded his vehicle from Independence Layout to Ogui, Enugu.

Mr Ndukwe said the suspect will soon be charged to court.