shows some ammunition recovered from the suspects involved in the
attack on a bullion van in Ebonyi State on July 29,
2020.
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The police have arrested seven suspects involved in the
robbery attack on a bullion van and the killing of four policemen
in Ebonyi State.
According to a report obtained by Channels Television
on Tuesday, the arrests were made barely five days after the
incident.
Among those apprehended for the attack were two soldiers – one
in active service and the other dismissed.
Channels Television had reported that the bullion van
was being escorted by policemen to one of the first-generation
banks along Ogoja Road in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital on
Wednesday last week before it came under attack.
Following the incident, the police launched a ‘serious manhunt’
of the assailants which led to their arrest in less than one
week.
READ ALSO: Armed Robbers Attack Bullion Van,
Kill Four Policemen In Ebonyi
The operation was carried out by police detectives attached to
the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), with support from the
Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU).
While on the operation, the police team arrested one Alfred
Robinson on Saturday last week in Asaba, the Delta State
capital.
The 45-year-old suspect is said to be a native of Gelegele town
in Ovia North Local Government Area of Edo State.
Upon his arrest, the police recovered a Toyota 4 Runner SUV said
to have been snatched alongside others for the purpose of the
attack.
Also recovered from Robinson included a GPMG rifle with 153
rounds of live ammunition, five AK 47 rifles with 1,402 rounds of
live ammunition, a K2 rifle with loaded magazine, and 51 AK 47
magazines.
An intensive follow up operation by the police team also led to
the arrest of six more suspected members of the robbery gang within
24 hours.
Those arrested include Sergeant Ayeni Samuel, 43, who is a
serving soldier attached to the Command Day Secondary School at the
Nigerian Army Cantonment in Ikeja, Lagos and Corporal Emeka
Harrison, 33, a dismissed soldier who until his dismissal was
attached to 7 Division Garrison in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Others are Sunday Soyemu, 46, and a native of Alegnene in
Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa State; Emeka Illo, 37, and a native of
Igwachi community in Orji River LGA of Enugu State; Abuchi Elijah,
27, and a native of Nsalangwa in Nsalangwa LGA of Abia State; and
Ibanifiroi Ekiene, 38, and a native of Tombia community in Degema
LGA of Rivers State.
According to the police, the six suspects arrested on Sunday
came from various parts of the South-South and South-East.
They were said to be perfecting a planned intended bank robbery
in Asaba this week before they were apprehended.
A Lexus 350 SUV containing various arms and ammunition were
recovered from them.
The items include 136 rounds of K2 ammunition, five K2
magazines, 12 locally made bomb (unexploded), a KPT power tool
230MM angle grinder, and assorted charms, among others.
“All suspects, upon interrogation, confessed to the bullion van
robbery in Ebonyi State where four policemen were killed, with many
other armed robberies/kidnappings across the South-East and
South-South.
“Suspects also confessed that four out of the rifles recovered
belong to the policemen they killed during the bullion van robbery
in Ebonyi State. Suspects are assisting police to arrest their
remaining gang members,” the report said.