Operatives of Anambra State Police Command have arrested five suspected armed robbers terrorising Oko and Neni communities in the state.

The Command’s spokesperson, Ikenga Tochukwu, in a statement, yesterday, said security operatives invaded a criminal hideout in an uncompleted building along Oko-Ufuma Expressway in Orumba North Local Council and arrested the gang leader, Okechukwu Okpo, 24 of Ndobasi village, Ebonyi State, while other members of the gang fled.

Tochukwu said: “Police operatives attached to Oko Divisional headquarters, acting on credible information in the early hours of September 6, invaded a criminal hideout, an uncompleted building along Oko Ufuma Expressway in Orumba North Council, arrested one Okechukwu Okpo, ‘m’, 24 of Ndobasi village, Ebonyi State, and recovered one locally fabricated pistol, two live cartridges and three plasma television sets.

“The criminal gang on sighting the police vehicle opened fire on the operatives. The operatives responded swiftly and engaged the armed robbers in a gun battle, while other gang members fled the scene, but Okechukwu was arrested.

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“Preliminary investigation showed that the gang were responsible for over 25 armed robbery, kidnapping, car-snatching incidents that had happened along Oko Ufuma, Uga, Amaokpala Expressway, among others.

“The most recent,  according to the confessional statement of the suspect (Okechukwu), was an attack in a hotel on  August 13 at Ndikelionwu, where a female staff was raped and the gang also made away with three television sets and other items. Also efforts are on to arrest other fleeing gang members.

“On September 9,  at about 11:00 p.m., operatives attached to Neni in conjunction with the local security arrested one Chukwubike Anieto, ‘m’, 20, from Agulu; Chukwuemerie Ike, ‘m’, 36 from Agulu; Chidera Muo, ‘m’, 25 from Neni and Chukwuma Israel, ‘m’, 28 ,  all residing at Umuezeani village Akwaeze.