The Enugu State Police Command has arrested seven suspects and recovered a cache of illegal firearms and weapon repair tools in a series of targeted operations against cultism and armed violence across the state.
The arrests were made between June 15 and 21 during separate crackdowns in Enugu North, Nkanu West, and 9th Mile areas, according to a statement released on Sunday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe.
“Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad and other tactical teams arrested seven male suspects and recovered seven firearms, ammunition, and tools used for repairing guns,” Ndukwe said.
One of the suspects, 25-year-old Yusuf John, was apprehended at 9th Mile with a cut-to-size double-barrelled shotgun and an expended cartridge. His arrest followed the confessional statements of three other suspects — Ebube Victor (22), Kenechukwu Chiegwu (23), and Tochukwu Kingsley Nwodo (26) — who all admitted to being members of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity.
“They confessed to using the recovered firearm in the commission of various crimes,” the police spokesperson revealed.
In another operation on June 18, the police arrested 22-year-old Ugwualor Obumneke based on a tip-off from Onah Uchenna, a suspect earlier detained for alleged armed robbery and cult-related activities. Firearm repair tools were found in Uchenna’s possession.
“Further investigation led to the recovery of a locally made Beretta-style pistol, three other locally fabricated firearms, and a chamber of an English-made double-barrel gun,” Ndukwe explained. “The suspects also confessed to being members of the Black Axe Confraternity and admitted to using the weapons in various criminal operations.”
The spokesperson added that a joint team of SWAT and Octopus Tactical Squads raided several crime hotspots in Enugu North and Nkanu West Local Government Areas. During the operation, a suspect, Iloh Chukwunonso, was arrested with a locally made Beretta-like pistol, while other fleeing suspects abandoned a cut-to-size firearm and two live cartridges.
All suspects, Ndukwe said, are currently in custody and will be prosecuted once investigations are concluded.
Commending the tactical teams, the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, reiterated the command’s resolve to root out crime from the state.
“Our mission is clear — to rid Enugu State of criminal elements and restore public confidence. I commend the operatives for their bravery and urge them to remain focused until our communities become completely unsafe for criminals,” Giwa said.
The police also called on residents to continue providing actionable intelligence to support ongoing efforts to maintain law and order.
