The police command in Imo State, said its operatives arrested six suspected bandits that escaped arrest during the Izombe and Agwa police stations raids.

The spokesman of the command, Michael Abattam, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Friday in Owerri, Imo State.

Abattam said the command recovered one English made automatic pump action gun, two locally made pistols, 20 live cartridges and fourteen sharpened machetes.

The statement reads, “Following a distress call on 10/8/2022 at about 1040 hours, that some of the bandits that escaped arrest during the Izombe and Agwa raid conducted by the Command’s Tactical Teams, were sighted to have regrouped, blocking the road along Obudi Agwa, stopping vehicles, searching the occupants and checking their phones to identify policemen in the vehicle for possible abduction.

“The Command’s tactical teams immediately mobilized, joined by police operatives from Agwa Police Station, stormed the identified location at Obudi Agwa road, cordoned the area and arrested six bandits.”

The police said one of the suspects Mmadukaji Moses ‘m’ aged 30 years of Mgbala Agwa, was wearing a police operational vest suspected owned by one of the slain police officers in the Agwa Police Station attack.

Others include: Chigozie Amanyere ‘m’ aged 21 years of Umukpo Agwa; Ifeanyi Uche ‘m’ aged 21 years of Obudi Agwa; Uzoma Uche ‘m’ aged 24 years of Obudi Agwa; Sopuruchi Anumodu ‘m’ aged 24yrs and Chukwuma ‘m’ aged 30 years.

According to the statement, “The operatives swiftly and tactically disarmed the bandits and recovered their weapons, which includes one English made automatic pump action gun, two locally made Pistols, twenty live cartridges and fourteen sharpened machetes, to the station.

“In the course of interrogating the suspects, it was discovered that they are all natives of Agwa while the suspect, who was putting on a police operational vest, is undergoing further interrogation to confirm the source of the police vest and as soon as investigation is concluded they will be charged to court.

The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, while commending the officers and men for their proactiveness and prompt response.

He called on the Hunters Association to collaborate with the police and other security agencies in giving information on criminal hideouts observed in the bushes.

The CP appealed to Imolites not to allow terrorists to use their Communities as safe haven to perpetrate heinous crimes rather they should report any suspicious activity observed within their neighbourhoods to the nearest police station or call the Command’s emergency numbers: 08034773600 or 08098880197.