By Adadareporters
Seven suspected cultists and armed robbers have been arrested in Awka, Anambra State, police said on Sunday.
The incident occurred at Unizik Junction on Friday, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the state police public relations officer, said. He mentioned the items recovered from them as a cut-size double barrel gun, one tricycle without a registration number, and some hard drugs.
The suspects are Chukwuemka Ozoekwe, 18; Chidozie Anagor, 18; Chukwuemeka Oyeoka, 18; Ebuka Okoye, 17; Olisa Obi, 19; Chidubem Nwakwu, 20, and Nwankwo Kosisochukwu, all males.
The PPRO however stated that one Makuo Nwosu, aka ‘Baby’, and one other person whose name is yet to be identified had been declared wanted.
“Police attached to Special Anti-Cult Squad while on patrol at Unizik Junction intercepted all males and five occupants, including the driver of a tricycle,” he said, adding that, “While operatives tried to question them, the occupants escaped but Chukwuemka Ozoekwe was arrested.”
According to him, Chukwuemeka later led the police to their criminal den where Chidozie Anagor, 18, and Chukwuemeka Oyeoka, 18, were arrested.
He said during the raid in their harbor, the operatives arrested one Ebuka Okoye, 17; Olisa Obi, 19; Chidubem Nwakwu, 20, and Nwankwo Kosisochukwu.
Quoting him, “The suspects confessed to being members of the Vipers Cult group and they are one of the gangs terrorizing Awka metropolis recently. The suspects also confessed that they were on a mission to rob the road users of their phones and personal belongings before the arrest.”
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Finance and Administration and acting Commissioner of Police, DCP Fidelis Ogarabe, has charged the operatives to sustain the tempo in the fight against crimes in the state.
Ogarabe also assured Ndi Anambra of police protection, and directed that the suspects be charged to court on the conclusion of the investigations.
