Police operatives in Enugu State have arrested seven youths including a former local government councillor for alleged conspiracy, armed robbery, secret cult, and unlawful possession of firearm.
The ex-Lawmaker whose name was given as Henry Agbo Ogbonna is a former Councillor in Enugu South Local Government Area of the State.
A statement signed by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Dan Ndukwe made available to Daily News Nigeria on Thursday, stated that the Lawmaker and the six others were apprehended at various times in the state.
The statement reads: “The Commissioner of Police Enugu State Command, *CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, psc (+)*, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Police to continuously clamp down on unrepentant criminal elements in the State.
“The reaffirmation is following the arrest of seven (7) male suspects, including a former Local Government councilor, for the m s, and secret cultism. Six (6) firearms, sixteen (16) live cartridges, and a snatched motor vehicle were recovered.
“A brief description of the arrests and recoveries shows that Police Operatives serving in the Abakpa Police Division of the Command, in synergy with the Neighbourhood Watch Group, on 06/12/2023 at about 9.30p.m., arrested one Ndubuisi Ugochukwu Eze Oboro aged 27.
“The suspect and cohorts, who escaped, had attacked their male victim, dispossessed him of his phones and snatched his Toyota Camry car in the process. But were on the verge of escaping when Operatives swooped on them, arrested the suspect, and recovered one (1) locally made double-barreled pistol and the vehicle.
“In a different development, Police Operatives of the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad of the Command, in the month of November 2023, arrested the following male suspects: Kosisochukwu Ochiora aged 25, Agbo Daniel (a.k.a. Ara) aged 25, Henry Agbo Ogbonna aged 42, Ani Samuel aged 17, and Okolo Ndukanachi aged 24.
“The suspects were arrested for their involvement in a case of conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, and cultism.
“Their arrest led to the recovery of four (4) firearms, comprising two (2) locally made double-barreled and one locally made revolver pistol, one (1) cut-to-size single-barreled gun, and sixteen (16) live cartridges.
“Investigations have proved that the suspects confessed to being members of the Vikings Confraternity, while one of them, Henry Agbo Ogbonna, was found to be the former Councillor of Ikiriki Ward 6 in Enugu South Local Government Legislative Council, acclaimed Senior Special Assistance on Works to the Council’s Executive Chairman, and is a member and sponsor of the secret cult group activities.
“It further revealed that the suspects, in the month of November 2023, perfected plans to avenge the attack on one of their cult group members by a notorious member of a rival cult group, Apache Tiger (also known as Two-two). This is before the Operatives swung into action and arrested them.
“Similarly, the Operatives of the Squad, on 24/11/23 at about 8.30 p.m., arrested a male suspect, Ani Chidera aged 28, for his involvement in the case of burglary. A painstaking investigation led to the recovery of one (1) locally made pistol from the suspect, who also confessed to being a member of Viking’s Viking Confraternity. The suspect has been arraigned in court and remanded in the Correctional Custodial Centre.
“The unprosecuted of the cases shall be charged to court and the suspects prosecuted once ongoing investigations are concluded”.