By Ade Oye
As part of efforts by the Nigeria Police Force to identify and crack down on criminal networks in the country, the Ebonyi State Police Command have intercepted 753 live ammunition of General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) in the state.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, CP Frank Mba, the items were concealed in a sac which was being transported in a commercial vehicle from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State to Umuahia in Abia State.
He said the intelligence-driven covert operation, which led to the interception and recovery of the deadly ammunition, is part of efforts by the Force to identify and crack down on criminal networks and supply chains for weapons and ammunition within and around the country.
Comprehensive investigations aimed at bringing to book all persons linked to the crime are ongoing.
Similarly, following investigations into the foiled bank robbery on the Onueke branch of a commercial bank in Ebonyi State which occurred on Tuesday, 27th April, 2021; Police operatives led by the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, on 29th April, 2021, stormed the criminal hideout of suspects indicted in the investigations located at Oriuzo village in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The suspects on sighting the Police squad, opened fire on them while the Police team engaged them gallantly and professionally.
In the process, three members of the gang including two male and one female met their waterloo following bullet injuries sustained during the exchange of gunfire.
Other suspects were said to have fled in different directions.
Two Ak47 riffles, five pump action guns, six pistols, 50 Ak47 ammunition, 126 cartridges, Jack knives, cutlasses, and a 40-page notebook containing inventories of ammunition purchased by the gang were recovered.
A Honda Pilot Jeep with number plate. ABJ 163 NV used for the foiled bank robbery was also recovered by the Police Team.
Unrelenting in their quest to apprehend the remaining suspects, the Police team traced the suspects to a shrine where the robbers usually go for mystical powers before embarking on their robbery operations.
Two of the suspects were eventually arrested from the shrine, which led to the arrest of additional three members of the gang.
At press time, the Force PRO said efforts were ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the gang and the chief priest of the shrine.
The Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Usman Alkali Baba, while commending Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, Police Command, CP Aliyu Garba, and officers of the command, for excellently harnessing intelligence to nip the crimes in the bud, assured citizens of the renewed commitment of the Force to improving public safety and combating all forms of violent crimes across the land.
