The Enugu State Police Command says it has arrested 14 suspected cultists in two separate intelligence-driven operations across the state, with two firearms and three live cartridges recovered.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday. He said the arrests were part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on cultism and other violent crimes in the state.
According to Ndukwe, operatives of the Anti-Cultism Sub-Unit of the Violent Crime Response Unit first stormed Eha-Amufu in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area.
The operation followed the confession of a suspect, Nwodo Peters Chinweokwu, alias “Sir-P” or “Biggy.” Acting on his information, police recovered a locally fabricated single-barrel pistol hidden in a bush.
Chinweokwu was arrested alongside seven others during the joint operation. They were identified as:
Nnaji Emmanuel, 34; Iroegbu Joshua, 18; Nwafor Miracle, 28; Ogbonna Moses Osinachi, 19; Oha Chidiebere Francis, 24; Udebuani Chukwuma, 30; and Elochukwu Oko, alias “Benson,” 29.
In a second operation carried out around 2 a.m. the same day in Ezeagu LGA, police arrested five more suspects based on information from another suspect, Izuchukwu Obieze, alias “Small.”
Those arrested were: Oscar Ebuka, 37; Eze Chimaobi Godson, alias “Torpedo,” 36; Ukeje Kingsley, 37; Tochukwu Chilo, alias “Boss Me,” 26; and Nnamezie Amechi, alias “Obodobuigwe,” 46.
A pump-action gun loaded with three live cartridges was also recovered during the raid.
Ndukwe said investigations are ongoing and that the suspects are providing useful information to help track down other fleeing members of the groups and recover more exhibits.
“All the suspects will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations,” he stated.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended the operatives for the successful operations. He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ridding the state of cultism, armed robbery and other violent crimes.
CP Giwa also urged residents to remain law-abiding and to support the police by providing credible and timely information.
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