Residents Smash Three – Man Armed-Robbery Syndicate

Posted by African Examiner Crime Watch, Featured, Latest Headlines, News, News From The State Monday, June 30th, 2014

From Ignatius Okpara, Owerri

Their disdainful act reached the climax last Sunday as the residents in Umunakanu Community, Ehime Mbano council Area of Imo State, smashed a three-man armed robbery syndicate which has been terrorizing the community in recent times.

African Examiner gathered that the notorious gang, which usually operated on motorcycle, had earlier stormed a brothel situated ahead of Eke Umunakanu Market, where it dispossessed victims of cash and other valuables.

An eyewitness, told our correspondent that after the brothel’s attack, the syndicate attacked a petrol station at Oriendu and made away with the day’s sales.

Narrating his ordeal to African Examiner, the operator of the petrol station, Hon. Kenneth Nwachukwu, explained that shortly after the day’s business, a motorcycle without light drove into the station with two young men, requesting to by fuel.

“But I told him that we have closed for the day. I was however overwhelmed when they pulled their guns and pointed them at me. “They commanded me to cooperate with them and hand over the money in my custody or get shot”.

“After handing over the money to them, the robbers ransacked the office and collected my mobile phones” Nwachukwu recounted.

He disclosed that it was his wife who witnessed what was going from a distance that ran out to raise the alarm which attracted the attention of youths and passers-by, who promptly responded to her distressed call.

According to him, a man hunt ensued as the robbers quickly sped off, thus prompted the residents to trail them. The fleeing robbers African Examiner source revealed were knocked down by one of the villagers with a motorbike.

However, the gang member who rode the motorbike was not equally lucky as he was overpowered and apprehended by the residents of the community who also recovered some loots from him, after which he was descended upon. Two of the gang escaped.

A team of policemen and vigilante security operatives arrived at the scene while the lynching was on, then intervened to rescue the suspect whom it was gathered hails from Okpofe community in Ezinihitte council area.

Efforts to speak with the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Andrew Enwerem, was unsuccessful, as his mobile phone was switched – off as at the time of filing this report.