The police command in Enugu says it arrested four suspected high-profile criminals within a week and seized one AK-47 rifle with 51 live ammunition of 7.62mm calibre, three locally-fabricated Beretta pistols, one pump-action gun, the butt of a locally-made gun, 31 live cartridges and other incriminating exhibits.

The police spokesman in Enugu, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, in a statement on Thursday, said the suspects were arrested between December 1 and 6.

The statement attributed the arrest to the current operational and crime-fighting measures by police commissioner Ahmed Ammani.

The commissioner had tasked police operatives to sustain the tempo and urged Enugu residents to keep assisting the police with credible information, according to the statement.

Police operatives serving in the Anti-Cultism Squad arrested Ifeanyi Ngene, 36, at Akwuke in the Awkunanaw axis of Enugu, on December 6 at about 9:30 a.m., added the statement.

Mr Ngene had in his possession a senior police officer’s uniform, three black military belts, two forest guards’ inscribed black berets and two walkie-talkies, the police stated.

“Also, Kenechi Ngwuenwo, 25, was arrested on December 6 at about 4:40 p.m. by operatives serving in Central Police Station while on stop-and-search duty on Enugu-Onitsha Road, by New Market Enugu. One cut-to-size locally-fabricated gun with six live cartridges was found in his unlawful possession,” the police statement said.

It further disclosed that police operatives serving in Police Mobile Force-3, while on “intensified patrol along Ozalla-4-Corners-Udi Road on December 1 at 11:25 a.m., intercepted and arrested Amaechi Precious, 25,” in a Toyota Sienna commercial vehicle transiting from Abakaliki, Ebonyi to Awka, Anambra.

“Upon search conducted, three locally-fabricated Beretta pistols, one butt of a locally-made gun and other incriminating items were found in his unlawful possession,” the statement revealed. “Consequent upon further investigative actions, SWAT operatives of the Command, on December 2, arrested Oforzoba Amandi, 26, at Anam in Anambra West LGA of Anambra, identified as the recipient of the firearms and a member of the criminal syndicate.”

All the suspects would be prosecuted after investigations, the command said. 

(NAN)