Police arrest suspected gunrunner in Anambra

The Anambra police command says its operatives have arrested Friday Ekpo, a suspected gunrunner, in Awka, the state capital.

In a statement on Monday, Tochukwu Ikenga, the police spokesperson in Anambra, said the arrest follows the confession of two robbery suspects.

Ikenga added that the suspect will be charged in court pending the completion of the investigation.

“Police operatives from the Anambra state police command have arrested one Friday Emenike, alias Ekpo ‘M,’ 42 years old, from the Izzi local government area (LGA) of Ebonyi state, who allegedly lends guns/weapons to criminals for their illegal operations, especially within Awka and its environs,” the statement reads.

“The Anti-Cultism Squad Enugu Ukwu, acting on credible information, raided an identified black spot in Umunaga village, Awka south LGA arrested one Okechukwu Chinwuko ‘M’ 27 years from Umunaga village and Ezenwa Chinedu ‘M’ 22 years from Umuneri village and recovered one pump-action gun, three live cartridges, a cutlass, criminal charms, and substances suspected to be hard drugs.

“The operatives also rescued two female victims who the suspects have allegedly forcibly abused sexually.

“During further interrogations, the suspects confessed that they rent guns/weapons from one Ekpo. This prompted the police operatives to act swiftly and arrest Ekpo.

“The case will be charged to court on the conclusion of the investigations.”