The police in Abia State have arrested a nine-man robbery gang including a dismissed Department of State Services (DSS) officer, Prosper Israel, who allegedly robbed a bullion van at Ntigha junction along the Enugu-Port Harcourt highway.
The robbery which occured on July 26, 2022 claimed the life of cash officer with one of the new generations banks. Three police were injured and one of the robbers was gunned down in the ensuing gun battle.
Abia State Police Commissioner, Janet Agbade told new reporters in Umuahia the arrest was possible after sustained painstaking investigations. She said: “I carefully studied their modus operandi and set up a special intelligence technologically led Investigative squad with a clear directive to arrest and recover weapons used by the deadly armed robbery gang.
” Consequently, the Investigation used a systematically commenced operation, applying speed and accuracy, and on different locations and days, arrested the following callous armed robbery gang.
“Adesoji Adeniyi from Ondo State; Nnamdi Nwaosu, also known as “Prophet”; Chinwendu Israel from Abia, Nwachukwu Albert from Delta State; Felix Ajaja from Ondo State; Moshood Opeyemi, from Osun State; and Matthew Christmas also from Delta Azubuike Amaefula from Abia; and Monday Samuel from Delta State.”
Exhibits recovered from the suspects include one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG); 13 AK-47 rifles; one cut-to-size double barrel gun with five live cartridges; 84 AK 47 magazines.
Other items recovered are two improvised explosives dynamites; a Mercedes Benz mini truck used in concealing firearms; and N10,184,000 cash.
The Commissioner of Police said the suspects, during interrogation, confessed that they placed the bullion van on surveillance for two months before striking.
