The Ebonyi State Police Command has recovered two Ak-47, 40 rounds of live ammunition and some charms from suspected murderers in the state.
This was contained in a press statement issued in Abakaliki by the Spokesman of the Command, ASP Levi Phillips.
The spokesman said the police said also recovered were two locally-Improvised Devices from the suspects.
According to the statement, the suspected murderers also committed conspiracy, murder, arson and armed robbery.
It explained that the Police recovered the items while trailing the gang on September 16 at their hideouts at Ugwulaugwu forest in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Phillips said: “At about 3:00pm on September 16, a team of Command operatives while on the trail of hoodlums, who murdered seven commuters on the August 9, set ablaze their vehicle at Anike village in Onicha local government.
“The hoodlums were enforcing their illegal sit-at-home order of Monday.
“The operatives while acting on a credible information, trailed some of the hoodlums to their hideouts at Ugwulaugwu forest in Ohaozara local government area.
“The hoodlums, on sighting the Police Operatives, opened fire at them and in the gun duel that ensued, two gang members were fatally wounded, and died in the process.
“Some of the gang members were Ikwe Maduabuchi ‘m’ aged 25 years, Aka “Tablet”, a native of Okpuitumo village in Ikwo Local government, and Onyekachi John, ‘m’ aka “Blood”, aged 28 years, a native of Anike village in Onicha local government of the state.
“Some of them also escaped into the forest with gun-shot injuries.”
The statement, however, added that the remains of the two killed have been deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki mortuary for autopsy.
Phillips added: “The following items were abandoned and recovered by the police operatives; two AK-47 rifles, Forty Rounds of Live Ammunition.
“Two Locally made Improvised Device (IEDs) and some Charms. Efforts are on top gear towards arresting other fleeing gang members.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police Ebonyi State, Aliyu Garba, used the medium to reassure the law-abiding citizens of the State of the command’s commitment to security of lives and property.