The Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba was amongst police operatives that stormed the criminal hideout located at Oriuzo village in Ezza North on April 29, 2021.
The raid was a follow up on investigation after the foiled bank robbery on the Onueke branch of a commercial bank in the state on April 27.
According Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba, the suspects on sighting policemen opened fire at them and in the process three members of the gang including a woman was gunned down.
Two Ak47 riffles, five pump action guns, six pistols, fifty Ak47 ammunition, one hundred and twenty-six cartridges, Jack knives, cutlasses, and a 40-page notebook containing inventories of ammunition purchased by the gang were recovered. A Honda Pilot Jeep with Reg No. ABJ 163 NV used for the foiled bank robbery was also recovered by the Police Team.
Unrelenting in their quest to apprehend the remaining suspects, the Police team traced the suspects to a shrine where the robbers usually go for mystical powers before embarking on their robbery operations. Two of the suspects were eventually arrested which led to the arrest of additional three members of the gang. Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the gang and their spiritual godfather – the chief priest of the shrine.
