Dismissed Soldier Uses Military Background To Evade Checkpoints With Stolen Items
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
A dismissed soldier, and member of an interstate syndicate has confessed to using his background as a former security agent to bypass checkpoints during the interstate shipment of stolen items.
The dismissed soldier, 28-year-old Sadik Ahmed, was arrested alongside 7 other members of the syndicate, by operatives of the Enugu state police command.
The Command’s public relations officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, said the crackdown on the syndicate, which specialised in armed robbery and financial fraud, followed coordinated operations involving the Emene Division, Crack, and Octopus Tactical Squads, alongside the Neighbourhood Watch Group.
The other arrested suspects are Ismaila Isah, 23; Abbas Usman, 33; Mubarak Garba, 24; Abubakar Haruna, 23; Abubakar Sani, 32; Obiri Chukwuebuka, 22; and Bright Omeniru, 22.
Recovered from the suspects are 2 locally made pistols loaded with a live and expended cartridge and a cash sum of three hundred thousand, four hundred and fifty Naira (₦300,450.00).
Others are 10 laptops, land documents, 10 mobile phones, assorted jewellery and watches, one MP3 player, one headphone, 4 power banks, 2 SIM cards, footwear, and bags.
Ndukwe explained that the operation commenced on November 12, 2024, around 3:30 a.m., when operatives from the Emene Division, supported by Neighbourhood Watch members, responded to a distress call regarding an armed robbery at an estate in Emene.
During the operation, Ismaila Isah was apprehended with one locally made pistol, the said ₦300,450.00, and some stolen items, while others escaped.
Ismaila was later transferred to the Crack Tactical Squad for further investigation. His confessional statements and subsequent discreet investigations led to the arrest of Sadik Ahmed, Abbas Usman, Mubarak Garba, Abubakar Haruna, and Abubakar Sani at their hideouts in New Garriki, Awkunanaw, Enugu. Another locally made pistol and additional stolen items were recovered.
Furthermore, operatives from the Octopus Tactical Squad utilised an intelligence report and arrested Obiri Chukwuebuka, and Bright Omeniru in Owerri, Imo State. During interrogation, they admitted to using phones stolen by the syndicate to fraudulently withdraw funds from victims bank accounts. Two SIM cards from different networks were also recovered.
The suspects confessed to committing multiple armed robberies within the Enugu metropolis and using the victims’ mobile phones’ SIM cards to also commit acts of fraud.
Ndukwe said the suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
