
Awka, Nigeria – A joint security operation by police operatives from Oko Divisional Headquarters and members of the Amaokpala Vigilante Group (AVG) has led to the arrest of two suspects linked to an armed robbery incident in Anambra State. The operation, conducted on January 24, 2025, at 4:54 p.m., was based on intelligence-driven investigations.
The suspects, identified as Michael Chinweze, also known as “Small,” a 20-year-old from Iwollo, Eziagu Local Government Area, Enugu State, and 25-year-old Mmesoma Agba from Enugwu-Nanka, were apprehended in possession of a pump-action firearm, a mobile phone, a black handbag, and drug paraphernalia, including two glass pipes suspected to be used for inhaling narcotics.
Their arrest follows a report filed on January 22, 2025, at the Oko Police Station. According to the report, the suspects, along with an accomplice still at large, allegedly robbed a victim at gunpoint near Oko Community Hospital. Stolen items included a red Cub motorcycle with registration number WER 137 GV, valued at ₦1.3 million, a Tecno mobile phone, an ATM card, and ₦38,000 in cash.
During police interrogation, Chinweze reportedly confessed to the crime and admitted to stealing the firearm from a security post at a hotel in Amaokpala. Preliminary investigations revealed that Mmesoma Agba, a mother of two, had previously lost her first husband in a gun battle with law enforcement during a criminal operation involving the gang.
The Commissioner of Police for Anambra State, Nnaghe Obono Itam, has directed the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Awka for further investigation. He also urged operatives to intensify efforts to apprehend the remaining suspect still at large.
SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Anambra State Command, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on January 28, 2025.
“This operation demonstrates the commitment of the Anambra State Police Command to tackling violent crimes and ensuring the safety of residents. We will continue to work tirelessly to bring all perpetrators to justice,” Ikenga stated.
Investigations are ongoing.