Men from the Imo State Police Command have apprehended two robbery suspects who were posing as police officers.
The suspects were detained, according to the command’s spokesman, Michael Abattam, following a distress call from a victim who named one of the robbers who took his car and money from him on Mbonu Street in Aladinma, Owerri, on July 18. The victim said the robber was recognized by the victim.
Abattam claimed that the victim was seized from his ash-colored Lexus 330 Jeep with the license plate RLU 08 AH, taken into a booth, and brought to a desolate location where the suspects took all of his goods.
According to the police, the suspects also transferred N100,000.00 out of the victim’s bank account using his cell phone.
“The team immediately mobilized and stormed the scene and arrested one Goodness Chinaza ‘m’ aged 23yrs, residing at Aladinma Owerri, Imo State. On interrogation, he confessed being a member of a robbery gang and admitted robbing the victim. He then led police operatives to arrest Emeka Orji ‘m’ aka “COCO” aged 24yrs of the same address, while Julius Chigozie ‘m’ escaped. On further interrogation, they both revealed where they concealed the robbed vehicle at Rapour Hotel, Amakohia Owerri, lmo State. However, the vehicle was recovered at the station.
“Investigation revealed that the three suspects were residing in a quarter in Aladinma Owerri, where they broke into the apartment of a late Police Officer in the same quarters, stole his uniforms, bullet proof vests and other valuables. They started using the same to rob innocent citizens.
“Their modus operandi is that they dress up in the stolen uniform, block the road, checking vehicles as if they are genuine police officers. Once they see a flashy car, they will stop the driver, requesting for the vehicle particulars. In the bid of giving them the particulars, they will drag him out, put him in the booth of the car and zoom off to a safe place where they will rob the innocent victim. Sometimes, they end up kidnapping the victim for a ransom, until luck ran against them and they were arrested,” Abattam narrated.
He claimed that after checking the suspects’ defense, the police found a jack knife, a double barrel shotgun built in the area, and bulletproof vests and police uniforms.
