Following a distress call received on the July 20 at about 1800 hours, from a robbery victim who accidentally saw one of the armed robbers, who was among the three armed robbers that robbed him of his ash coloured Lexus 330 Jeep with registration number RLU 08 AH on gun point, on July 18 at about 1800hrs along Mbano Street, Aladinma Owerri, Imo State , forced him into the booth, took him to a lonely place, robbed him of all his valuables and used his cell phone and transferred the sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000.00) out of his bank account to one of their accounts.
The team immediately mobilized and stormed the scene and arrested one Goodness Chinaza ‘m’ aged 23yrs, residing at Aladinma Owerri, Imo State.
On interrogation, he confessed being a member of a robbery gang and admitted robbing the victim. He then, led police operatives to arrest Emeka Orji ‘m’ aka “COCO” aged 24yrs of the same address, while Julius Chigozie ‘m’ escaped.
On further interrogation, they both revealed where they concealed the robbed vehicle at Rapour Hotel, Amakohia Owerri, lmo State. However, the vehicle was recovered to the station.
Investigation revealed that the three suspects were residing in a quarter in Aladinma Owerri, where they broke into the apartment of a late Police Officer in the same quarters, stole his uniforms, bullet proof vests and other valuables. They started using same to rob innocent citizens.
Their modus operandi is that they dress up in the stolen uniform, block the road, checking vehicles as if they are genuine police officers. Once they see a flashy car, they will stop the driver, requesting for the vehicle particulars. In the bid of giving them the particulars, they will drag him out, put him in the booth of the car and zoom off to a safe place where they will rob the innocent victim. Sometimes, they end up kidnapping the victim for a ransom, until luck ran against them and they were arrested.
On searching the house of the suspects, the following items were recovered; they include: -,One locally made Double Barrel Short Gun, One Jack Knife and Police Uniforms/bullet proof vests.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, psc(+) while commending the officers for their quick response and gallantry, warned Hoteliers to be wary of persons who make use of their facilities and cars parked in their premises.