ABIA: How Bullion Van Robbery Suspects Were Arrested - Police

All FACTS NEWSPAPER had reported that a bullion van was attacked on July 26, at Ntigha junction along Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, Aba in Abia state. A staff of a new generational bank escorting the van to Umuahia was shot dead, three policemen sustained gunshot injuries, one of the robbers was shot dead, while the others carted away undisclosed amount of money. READ HERE

Parading the arrested suspects on Monday, September 19, at the state command's headquarters in Umuahia, the commissioner of police, Mrs Janeth Agbede gave their names as;

Adesoji Adeniyi, aka "SojiÔÇØ, and Albert Nwachukwu, aka "WhiteÔÇØ (arrested in Lagos State); Felix Ajalaja, Moshood Opeyemi, aka "AbiolaÔÇØ, and Azubuike Amaefule, aka "ZubbyÔÇØ, (arrested in Rivers state); Nnamdi Nwaosu, aka "ProphetÔÇØ, Monday Samuel, aka "MDÔÇØ, and Matthew Christmas, aka "AluwaÔÇØ, (arrested in Imo, Ondo and Delta, respectively); two brothers from Abia state; Chikwendu and Prosper Israel, (arrested in Abia).

Prosper Israel was dismissed from the Department of State Services (DSS) before he joined his brother in crime.

According to the commissioner, the suspects belong to a 14-man gang that specialised in bullion van robbery in different parts of the country.

Speaking on how they arrested the suspects, the commissioner said a special intelligence, technologically-led investigation squad was set up after the bullion van robbery in Aba where they carted away N390 Million.

"I carefully studied their modus operandi and set up a special intelligence, technologically-led investigation squad, with a clear directive to arrest and recover weapons used by the deadly armed gang."
She added that the suspects confessed that the Abia attack was executed after they mounted about two months of surveillance on the bullion van.

"Consequently, the squad systematically commenced operation, applying speed and accuracyÔÇØ she said.

Items recovered from the suspects who were arrested at different locations and days included; one General Purpose Machine Gun with 53 rounds of live ammunition, 13 AK47 rifles with 1,749 live ammunition, two improvised explosive dynamites; one cut-to-size double barrel gun with five live cartridges and 84 AK47 magazines.

The operatives also impounded a Mercedes Benz truck allegedly used by the gang to conceal their firearms.

They also recovered N10,184,000 from the suspects out of the N390 million allegedly stolen from the bullion van.

Speaking to newsmen, the driver of the truck, Albert, who hails from Aniocha north LGA of Delta state said his role was to drive the truck where their weapons are concealed any time there was an operation to their target location.

According to him, he dropped out from the University of Ado Ekiti and went into robbery to get money for the expansion of his jeans wears business.
He said five AK 47 and one GPMG were concealed in the truck at the time of his arrest.

On his own part, Prosper Israel said he was initially serving at the Abia State Government House but was dismissed in 2007 following his late reporting to a new posting.

"I was in my house when my brother brought money and his colleagues and they shared and gave me part of it.

ÔÇØ I asked him and he told me how they got the money. I want to plead for forgiveness because I failed to rebuke him. So, it is obvious I participated because I can't say I did not. But it was not intentional and I want society to forgive usÔÇØ he said.