It also arrested a 32-year-old suspect identified as Chinenye Nwadike.
The Nigeria Police Force has said that its personnel in Enugu Command busted an armed robbery gang operating under the cover of ‘unknown gunmen’.
It also arrested a 32-year-old suspect identified as Chinenye Nwadike.
A police team led by operatives of the command serving in Octopus Squad also recovered five firearms and 374 live ammunition from the suspect.
The police team also recovered a tricycle which the gang earlier stole at gunpoint.
A statement by the Command's spokesman Daniel Ndukwe, on Sunday, said the suspect was arrested on Friday night when the operatives conducted an intelligence-guided sting operation at Diamond Estate in Onitsha Road, Enugu.
Ndukwe said that the criminal gang had been known to perpetrate heinous crimes within Enugu metropolis and its environs under the name of "Unknown Gunmen".
The suspect, according to the statement, is a native of Mbaitoli in Imo State, but a resident of Ndiagha, Amechi-Uwani Enugu. The police said the other gang members escaped with bullet wounds.
"The team recovered a yellow-coloured tricycle the suspects were operating in, which was earlier reported snatched by the gang at gunpoint in the evening hours of the same date, at Eke-Otu Amechi-Awkunanaw Enugu.
"Other exhibits recovered include: two (2) assault rifles, one (1) English-made and one (1) locally-fabricated Pump Action guns each, one (1) double-barreled gun, three hundred and forty-nine (349) live ammunition of 7.62mm calibre, twenty-five (25) live cartridges, one (1) Monday (sledge) hammer, one (1) Battle axe head, four (4) Machetes, two (2) bottles of Six Followers Perfume and objects suspected to be charms," the statement partly read.
While the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ammani, commended the operatives for acting on the crime prevention measures of the Command towards the actualisation of the operational breakthrough, the PPRO said the CP also charged them to remain steadfast, resolute and ensure that the fleeing members of the gang are fished out.
"The CP enjoins citizens of the State to remain law-abiding, vigilant and continue to assist the Command with credible information and/or intelligence required to clamp down unrepentant criminals in the State.”
"Such information/intelligence can be supplied at the nearest Police Station; or by calling the Command's emergency hotlines on: 08032003702, 08075390883, 08098880172 or 08086671202; or by alternatively sending emails to [email protected]," the Ndukwe stated.