A lone armed robbery incident around Regina Caeli junction Awka, involving an arms-wielding 25-year-old man, was on Monday foiled.
The suspect, one Chukwuemeka Afor, a native of Akpugo in Nkanu South Council Area of Enugu State, had allegedly snatched a bag containing the sum of three-point five million naira from one Ebuka Okeakpu who just stepped out from a nearby bank.
Eye witness account said the suspect started shooting indiscriminately to scare people away and in the process, bullet pellets hit and injured about five persons as was shown also by a recorded video.
The eyewitnesses say the angry onlookers had stampeded the suspect, recovered the pump-action rifle he used and the money stolen and beat him mercilessly before a Police team around the area intervened and took the suspect and victims away.
As could be seen from footages circulated online, the mob was trying to lynch the suspect when the police pushed him inside the trunk of a Police smart car and drove off.
But a statement from the spokesperson of the Police in Anambra, Haruna Mohammed said Police operatives attached to the department of operations Awka and stationed at Regina Ceali junction, effected the arrest.
The statement read; “On the 08/06/2020 at about 1:33 pm, Police operatives attached to the department of operations Awka and stationed at Regina Ceali junction by Zenith Bank PLC along Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Awka responded to a distress call of armed robbery where a hoodlum armed with automatic Pump action rifle and firing indiscriminately allegedly snatched a bag containing the sum of Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira(#3,500,000)cash from one Ebuka Ukeakpu ‘m’.
“Suspect, one Chukwuemeka Afor ‘m’ aged 25 years, a native of Akpugo Nkanu South LGA, Enugu state who was almost lynched by the mob was arrested while the firearm and the snatched money were also recovered in his possession.
“However, four persons were hit with stray pellets discharged by the suspect but not life-threatening.”
Mohammed said the victims were rushed to the Police hospital Awka including the suspect who was beaten to stupor by the mob and they are presently responding to treatment.
He further said the case is under investigation after which suspect would be charged to court.
