Navy rescues suspected armed robber from angry mob in Anambra

ONE out of the three notorious armed robbery suspects that have been terrorising residents of Okpoko, Odoekpe and traders at the New Coke Market, by Seven Keys Company and Power Mike Stadium, in Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State.

The robbery suspect was said to have been apprehended by an angry mob while he and two other members of his gang, were trying to rob some people going to work and market before they were cordoned off and two managed to escape.

However, it took the swift intervention of the men of the Nigerian Navy from the Naval Outpost Onitsha, to save the life of the arrested suspect, who gave his name as Mr Ifeany Ogboji, who was about to be set ablaze by the angry mob before the Navy men arrived.

Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, the arrested suspect, Ogboji, who did not deny involvement in the crime, claimed to be 20 years and come from Ebonyi state, with both parents deceased, adding that he was a bus conductor before joining the robbery gang, following the faulty condition of the bus he follows.

He gave the names of two of his members who are now on the run, as Black Man and Oscar, and pleaded with the security agencies to be given another chance, promising that he will never involve in any violent crime again.

Addressing newsmen shortly before handing the suspect over to the men of the Anti Robbery Squad of the Nigerian Police Onitsha, Commanding Officer of the Naval Outpost Onitsha, Navy Commander Kabir Muhammed, said “at about 8.52 Thursday morning we received a call from a Good Samaritan that an arrested armed robbery suspect was about to be set ablaze at Kara area of Otumonye in Odoekpe.”

Muhammed who spoke through the Information Officer of the Naval Outpost Onitsha, Sub Lieutenant Sulaiman Sulaiman Bala said “immediately we received the call we swung into action, and with the prompt response of our men the suspect was rescued and brought to our base here in Odoekpe.

“As you can see, the wounds on his body, the suspect was already beaten to a pulp and about to be set ablaze when we arrived there and took him away, some of the items recovered from him suspect were assorted types of daggers, and some illicit and illegal substances.

“The weapons will be handed over to the Police while the illicit substances will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, like we did a few months ago for further investigations.

“Following the directive, mission and vision of the Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ibang, we have been carrying the mandate to assist other security agencies in ensuring internal security in Anambra state, we have our patrol teams that carry out operations in areas like Mgbuka Obosi, Chisco park, Asaba Park, Upper Iweka, Uga Junction, Onitsha Main Market, Niger Bridge, Head Bridge, Harbour Industrial Layout, Okpoko, Pokobros Avenue, Kara, Idemili, Okoti down to Atani.

Since our recent operations commenced about a month ago, we have intensified our operations and we have been able to arrest a good number of suspected criminals with all kinds of dangerous weapon and handed over to the NDLEA, we have also carried rescue operations to safeguard life and property within our area of operation, added.