The Anambra State Police Command has successfully arrested three suspected members of a notorious robbery gang that has been terrorizing residents in various parts of the state. The suspects, believed to specialize in armed robbery and car theft, were apprehended following a coordinated operation led by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, acting on intelligence provided by a suspect already in custody.
In an official statement released on Monday, May 31, 2025, the Public Relations Officer for the Anambra State Police Command, Superintendent Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the arrests. According to Ikenga, the breakthrough came after officers interrogated a previously arrested suspect who provided critical information that led to the capture of three of his alleged accomplices.
“The police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, in the early hours of May 30, 2025, acting on intelligence received from a detained suspect, apprehended three individuals identified as Monday Onoja, Sanusi Muhammed, and Kenneth Nwokpu,” SP Ikenga revealed. “All the suspects are males within the age bracket of 27 to 32 years.”
The suspects were arrested in Agukwu-Nri, a community in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State. The operation was executed with precision, and during the arrest, law enforcement officers recovered a cache of incriminating evidence linking the men to multiple robbery incidents.
Among the items recovered from the suspects were a white Mercedes Benz C300 4matic bearing registration number KWC 140, an ash-coloured Lexus 350 with registration number 669 CY, and two high-end mobile phones suspected to have been stolen from their victims. In addition to the stolen property, police operatives also recovered an automatic pump-action gun, believed to be one of the weapons used during their criminal operations.
Anambra Police Arrest Three Robbery Suspects, Recover Stolen Vehicles and Weapons
“The recovery of the firearms and vehicles, along with other items, is a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to dismantle armed robbery syndicates operating within Anambra State,” SP Ikenga stated. “We believe this gang has been responsible for a series of armed attacks, particularly targeting motorists and car owners.”
Investigations into the suspects’ activities have since been expanded. Ikenga added that efforts are currently underway to track down other members of the gang who are still at large. The police have already deployed specialized units and intelligence teams to various locations in the state to apprehend the fleeing suspects and uncover more stolen items that may be hidden or sold.
“We have widened the scope of our investigation and emplaced every necessary measure to arrest the remaining members of the gang,” the command’s spokesperson emphasized. “This operation underscores the proactive posture of the Anambra State Police Command in tackling violent crimes, ensuring that no criminal element finds safe haven in the state.”
According to police sources, the arrested suspects are also being interrogated in connection with other unsolved cases of armed robbery and vehicle snatching reported across the state in recent months. Residents of Anambra have been living under growing anxiety due to a spate of armed robberies, particularly targeting urban centers and busy commuter routes.
This latest success has been welcomed by members of the public and stakeholders in the security sector, who have commended the police for their swift and decisive action. Community leaders in Agukwu-Nri, where the suspects were arrested, expressed relief that part of the gang responsible for the region’s insecurity had been neutralized.
“The arrest of these suspects brings a measure of comfort to our people who have been living in fear,” said one local elder. “We hope the police will not relent until all the criminals involved are brought to justice.”
The Anambra State Police Command has urged the public to continue supporting law enforcement by providing timely and accurate information that can assist in crime prevention and investigation. SP Ikenga reaffirmed the command’s dedication to safeguarding lives and property, warning criminal elements that the state would remain unsafe for anyone involved in illegal activities.
The suspects are currently in police custody and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded. The recovered vehicles and weapons will be presented as evidence during the trial.
This development marks another significant achievement in the command’s ongoing campaign to rid the state of crime and restore public confidence in law enforcement.
