The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a four-man tricycle and phone robbery gang operating in the Awka and Ifite areas of the state and specialising in robbing unsuspecting members of the public.
The spokesman for the state command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a press statement on Tuesday, said the police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad carried out the arrest in the early hours of Monday.
Ikenga said exhibits recovered from the gang include nine brands of phones, including the victim’s iPhone, one laptop, two tricycles with registration numbers LSD 464 QP and BLF 552 VH, four different tricycle plate numbers and a substance suspected to be a hard drug.
The statement read, “Anambra State Police Operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu, in the early hours of August 25, 2025, while on night patrol along the Agu Awka/Ifite Awka axis, intercepted a tricycle and arrested a four-man criminal syndicate specialising in robbing unsuspecting residents, particularly students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, of their phones and other valuables.
“The suspects include: Nnaji Chidera ‘m’ 19 years; Chijioke Mmaduabuchi ‘m’ 21 years; Wisdom Ogbonna ‘m’ 19 years, and Afamefuna Egbe ‘m’ 20 years. Exhibits recovered are nine brands of phones, including the victim’s iPhone, one laptop, two tricycles with registration numbers LSD 464 QP and BLF 552 VH, four different tricycle plate numbers and a substance suspected to be a hard drug.
“The operatives, upon interrogation of the suspects, confessed to being part of a criminal syndicate that specialises in robbing students within the Awka axis.
“They further revealed that the multiple tricycle plate numbers found with them were usually used to disguise their operational vehicles whenever they embarked on armed robbery.”
According to him, the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu, while commending the operatives for their swift response and urging youths to desist from crime, warned that the Command will not relent in ensuring that criminals face the full weight of the law.
PUNCH.
