Police operatives from the Anambra State Police Command have arrested a 42-year-old man, Friday Emenike, also known as Ekpo, from Izzi Local Government Area, Ebonyi State.
Emenike is suspected of supplying firearms to criminals operating in and around Awka.
Confirming the arrest, police spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga said that on 7th December 2024, officers from the Anti-Cultism Squad in Enugu Ukwu raided a known criminal hotspot in Umunaga Village, Awka South LGA. During the raid, they apprehended two individuals: Okechukwu Chinwuko, 27, and Ezenwa Chinedu, 22.
Police also recovered a pump-action shotgun, three live cartridges, a machete, suspected charms, and drugs. Two female victims, who had allegedly been sexually assaulted by the suspects, were rescued.
Ikenga added that further investigations revealed that the suspects had obtained the firearms from Ekpo. Following this information, police apprehended Ekpo.
The police spokesperson stated that the case will be brought before the courts upon completion of the investigation.
