The police in Enugu have repelled an attack by a five-man gang who attempted to enforce an illegal sit-at-home in the area on Friday.
The development was made known in Enugu on Friday evening by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe.
He recalled that the police had earlier on the same day reported that operatives of the Awkunanaw Division of the Command intercepted and engaged the criminals in a gun duel at One-Day, Awkunanaw, Enugu, as they were snatching an Enugu State Transport Company, ENTRACO-branded Sharon mini van at gunpoint for their deadly operation.
The suspects were said to have escaped with serious gunshot injuries.
However, a thorough search conducted on their vehicle led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle with a magazine loaded with 19 live ammunition of 7.62 calibres, two bottles of petrol bomb and other incriminating exhibits.
But giving an update on the operation, the PPRP said: “Further to the earlier report on Police Operatives serving in Awkunanaw Division of the Command, dislodging armed subversive criminal elements, who attempted to enforce the illegal sit-at-home order, in the early hours of today, 07/07/2023, a combined team of tactical Police Operatives of the Command have further discovered and recovered the lifeless bodies of four (4) of the male hoodlums, in a forest behind G. Ede Filling Station/7-Up, at Awkunanaw, Enugu, where they escaped into.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Ammani, has once again reassured that the Police and other Security Forces in the State shall not relent in their efforts to maintain maximum security and safety of the law-abiding citizens, as they go about their lawful businesses.
“He, however, solicits their continued support.”
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In another development, the police in Ekiti State have arraigned a 28-year-old man, Olatunde Opeyemi, before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrate Court on Friday over the alleged theft of household items worth N210,000.
Police prosecutor Inspector Sodiq Adeniyi told the court that the defendant committed the offences on July 2 in the Okesa area of Ado-Ekiti.
Adeniyi alleged that the defendant and one other person still at large broke into the house of Iyabode Musa at 2 am.
According to him, the two-man gang allegedly carted away a refrigerator valued at N150,000, one mattress valued at N40,000, and an iron bed valued at N20,000, all valued at N210,000.
The offences, the prosecutor said, contravened sections 322 (a) (b) (c), 323 (1) and (2), as well as Section 302 of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State 2021.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of housebreaking and stealing preferred against him.
The counsel for the defendant, Mr Olawumi Olowolafe, had subsequently urged the court to grant his client bail.
The magistrate, Dolapo Olorunlogbon, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum before she adjourned the case until July 12.