Some serving and retired military personnel have been arrested as mastermind of a bank robbery leading to the attack on a bullion van in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, last Saturday.
Recall that in the attack four policemen attached to the bank fell to robbers’ bullets, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
But shortly after the attack, IRT detectives with technical Intelligence Support from TIU swung into action and set after the mastermind of the dastardly act.
A release by policed authorities says, “Sequel to the attack on a bullion van, in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, last Saturday, July 29, by Bank Robbers which led to the death of four police officers, leaving others injured.
“During serious Manhunt by IRT Detectives with technical Intelligence Support from TIU arrested one Alfred Robinson, 45, and an Ijaw indigene from gelegele town in Ovia North Local Government Area of Edo State.
During intensive follow up, six more gang members were arrested by IRT detectives within 24 hours.
The other gang members arrested in the follow-up were Sunday Soyemu, 46, an Ijaw from Alegene in Ekeremor Council of Bayelsa State; Ayeni Samuel 03NA/53/088, 43, a serving soldier currently attached to Command Day Secondary School, Nigerian Army Cantonment, Ikeja, Lagos State. Ayeni is a native of Ilesha, in Osun State.
Also arrested included Corporal Emeka Harrison, 33, a dismissed soldier who, until his dismissal was attached to 7 Division Garrison, Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, Borno State. He is a native of Nsukka, Enugu State. Harrison had been dismissed from the Army since 2015.
Also arrested was Emeka Illo, 37, a native of Igwachi community in Orji River council of Enugu State, but resident at FH Estate, Kubwa, FCT.
Abuchi Elijah Aka was also arrested as one of the suspects. Aka was popularly refered to as Chime D Mosquito and is 27 years old. He is a native of Nsalangwa in Nsalangwa council of Abia State, but resident at Bonsac area of Asaba, in Delta State.
Ibanifiroi Ekiene, 38, an Ijaw from Tombia community of Degema council of Rivers State was also arrested alongside other members of the gang.
Recovered from the suspected a Toyota 4 Runner Jeep with Reg. No. NASSARAWA STATE AAA 561 FV reportedly snatched alongside others for the purpose of this operation containing, One GPMG rifle with 153 rounds of live ammunition; five AK 47 rifles with 1,402 rounds of live ammunition; one K2 rifle with loaded magazine; 51 AK 47 magazines; rifles with S/numbers as follows; K2….. 07013647, AK 47…. 402701, AK 47….. 60740, AK 47……35-6835, AK 47……21149 and 1 AK 47 without number.
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The police report said that the “recovered ammunition from the six hoodlums arrested, who came from various axis of the south- south/south east with intent to perfect a planned intended bank robbery in Asaba this week included :- A LEXUS 350 JEEP with REG NO AGL 267 FN ( LAGOS ) containing the following items :- 136 rounds of K2 ammunition; 5 K2 magazines; 12 locally-made bomb (unexploded); 1 KPT power tool 230mm Angle Grinder, 1Big Hammer; 1 small hammer; 1 big cutter; 4 different prepared charms.
“All suspects upon interrogation confessed to the Bullion Van Robbery in Ebonyi State where 4 police men were killed with Many other Armed Robberies/Kidnappings across the South East and South South.
“Suspects also confessed that four of the rifles recovered belong to the policemen killed during the bullion van robbery in Ebonyi State.
“Suspects are assisting police to arrest their remaining gang members.”
