Police apprehend two suspected armed robbers, cultist in Imo

Two armed robbery suspects, Ntosi Godfrey, 37, and Nnamdi Raymond, 22, have been taken into custody by Imo State Police Command operations. They were reported to be working along the axis between Umuahia and Owerri. 

A 25-year-old man named Chibueze Kalu was also apprehended by the command; he was thought to be a member of a well-known cult. 

The two suspected armed robbers were apprehended by the Tactical Unit of the command during an intelligence-led stop-and-search operation along the Owerri-Aba route, according to ASP Henry Okoye, the command's spokeswoman, who was presenting the suspects at the Owerri Command Headquarters.

The suspects, he claimed, had reportedly stolen a Green Toyota Golf with the license plate AA775BD Lagos from a victim in Umuahia, when the Tactical Unit approached them. He stated that "when they saw the police, they opened fire which was rebuffed by the operatives who manoeuvred to vintage and returned fire." 

He claimed that one of the suspects was shot during the gunfight and was subsequently sent to a local hospital for treatment, while the other suspect was taken into custody.

“On searching the suspects, the operatives recovered one pump action gun, one locally fabricated gun and 10 rounds of live cartridges.

“On interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of a deadly armed robbery syndicate in Umuahia and mentioned one suspect at large,” the release partly stated.

“In another development, the Operatives of Nekede Divisional Headquarters Owerri West LGA in collaboration with the local vigilantes had on July 18, 2024, made an arrest of Chibueze Kalu suspected to belong to a known cult group, Black Axe Confraternity,” he added.

One locally made pistol was also recovered from him after confessing of belonging to the cult group.

Source