A dismissed policeman and 13 other suspects have been arrested by the Anambra State Police Command for diverse offences.
Their offences ranged from car snatching to kidnapping, armed robbery and child stealing.
The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Garba Umar, said the dismissed policeman, Kenneth Chikwe, was arrested in Awka with bullet wounds after he allegedly dispossessed two people of Range Rover Sport Vehicle and Hilux Jeep at gunpoint.
The SUV is marked MUS 644 BB, while the Hilux Jeep’s registration number is LND 685 FW.
Items recovered from the different suspects were Range Rover Jeep, Hilux Jeep, one AK47 rifle, 20 rounds of ammunition, one Pump Action Rifle, one K2 Rifle with 15 rounds of live ammunition, one Pump Action with five cartridges and one locally made pistol.
Umar said the arrest of Chikwe and his subsequent confession led to the arrest of his partner in crime, Uzohu Livingstone, 51, at Owerri, Imo State, as well as the recovery of the two stolen cars.
According to the CP, the two suspects gave useful information that helped in nabbing other gang members.
Umar disclosed that Chikwe later died from his gunshot wounds.
Umar noted that three other suspects – Chukwuebuka Ugwu, Kosisochukwu Nwacho and Oluchukwu Nwajulide – all aged between 18 and 19, were picked up at Nnokwa for stealing a five-year-old boy from Agboa village, Nnobi.
The CP, who said the child was rescued unhurt and now with his parents, added that seven other suspects were arrested for armed robbery and kidnapping after they stormed the residence of Sylvester Arebun at Uromi, Edo State and robbed him of a Honda Pilot car,marked AA 556 EM.
The car had already been taken to Obosi Spare Parts Market by the robbers for sale before luck ran out on the gang members.
Umar reassured members of the public that the command, under his watch, was on top of every security situation in the state.