In a daring act of bravery by a citizen, combined with the swift response of gallant operatives of the Anambra State Police Command, has led to the arrest of a suspected armed robber and the recovery of a firearm in Awka, the state capital, during a robbery operation that occurred in the late hours of Christmas Day.
According to a press statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Ikenga Tochukwu, operatives attached to the Central Police Station (CPS), Awka, arrested the armed robbery suspect, one Nicholas Nweke, following the distress situation that occurred within the metropolis, where he was attempting to rob the victim with a Pump Action gun.
The PPRO stated that the Police Responding Team arrived at the scene to meet the victim courageously struggling with the suspect over the gun, adding that the suspect was eventually overpowered with the assistance of the police operatives, who also disarmed and took him into custody.
According to the SP Ikenga, items recovered from the suspect include a pump-action rifle, five expended cartridges, one Itel mobile phone and a cash sum of N1,200, as confirmed in the police statement.
Recounting how the incident happened, the PPRO said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect had allegedly approached the victim and demanded his mobile phone and other personal valuables.
He said when the victim resisted, the suspect reportedly opened fire; and in the process, pellets from the gunshots struck two unsuspecting individuals, who were not directly involved in the confrontation; while the victim he intended to rob grabbed the gun and they started struggling over the firearm, till the arrival of the police at the scene.
“Upon refusal, the suspect allegedly fired shots, during which pellets reportedly struck two unsuspecting individuals. The wounded were taken to a nearby hospital and are currently stable and responding to treatment,” he stated.
The police image maker added that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, for discreet and comprehensive investigation.