Police in Anambra have arrested a four-man robbery syndicate in Onitsha, the commercial city of the State whose specialty was hijacking trucks loaded with cement.
The suspects were arrested after they reportedly snatched a truck loaded with 900 bags of cement at Uromi village in Edo State and diverted same to Anambra State.
The Anambra Police Command spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, who confirmed the incident, said the suspects have confessed to the crime and would be charged after investigation.
He identified the suspects as Chinonso Onuigbo (44), Anayo Ulugha (26), Omoke Chigozie (28), all of Orlu in Imo State and Joseph Agu (24) of Omuma, Imo State.
“On the 26/3/2020 at about 5:30a.m there was a report that a Howo truck with Registration number AAA 715 YA loaded with 900 bags of cement belonging to BUA Cement Company Okpelle was snatched by a robbery syndicate at Uromi village in Edo State and the truck was diverted towards Anambra State by the suspects after allegedly inflicting deep matchete cuts on the driver leaving him unconscious.
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“Following the report, Police Operatives attached to Head bridge Division in conjunction with the Command Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) quickly mobilised to Onitsha Headbridge and intercepted the truck leading to the arrest of the suspects.
“Suspects voluntarily confessed to have snatched the truck same date at about 4:30a.m and was heading to Imo State before they were intercepted.
“Consequently, the suspects further led Police detectives to Orlu in Imo State where their gang leader one Chinonso Onuigbo ‘m’ aged 44years of Orlu in Imo State was also arrested.
“It would be recalled that similar incident took place few months ago between Onitsha – Owerri Road in Anambra State before the Commissioner of Police, John Abang, ordered for intensive patrols along that axis thereby forcing the syndicate to flee the State because of tight security measures put in place by the Command,” he stated.
He said exhibits recovered from the suspects included the snatched truck, 900 bags of cement and a machete which they allegedly used to attack the truck driver.
