Enugu Residents Demand More Security Surveillance As Vandals Engage Police In Gun Duel

Residents of Enugu metropolis, Monday, called on the operatives of the Nigeria Police to intensify their surveillance in the state ahead of the yuletide. Speaking with THE WHISTLER in an exclusive interview, respondents acknowledged the tendency for more criminal activities during the celebrations.

Anayo Odo, a resident of Nike, said, “Already crimes are on the increase. Last week, my friend’s car was stolen, and efforts to recover the Camry have not yielded any results. This is why police should make the public trust them to be able to provide them with intelligence reports. Many would like to do so, but a majority are afraid of betrayal.”

Another resident, Clement, a trader at Ogbete Main Market, said, “We are happy that police are gradually returning to our roads after the #EndSARS protest. I hope they have learnt their lessons. Crimes are on the increase, especially at Nike, and Abakpa, and I want the police to increase surveillance in these areas and other black spots. This is a difficult time, and very likely, hoodlums will do whatever they can, legally and illegally, to make both ends meet in this yuletide.”

Meanwhile, the Enugu State Police Command, Monday, announced the arrest of three vandals with two of the suspects dying after a gun duel with the police. The state police PRO, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement that, “Following credible information received at Abakaliki Road Police Station on 27/11/2020, at about 0500hrs, that hoodlums, suspected to be armed robbers, were vandalizing street/traffic lights near Shoprite Shopping Mall, Enugu, operatives of the station successfully arrested three of the five-man gang, while two others were fatally wounded.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that on arrival, the operatives were engaged in a gun duel by the suspects operating in a yellow mini commercial bus, and in the process, two of them sustained bullet wounds and were later confirmed dead in the hospital, while three others, namely: Anthony Peter, 28, resident at New Artisan, Enugu; Eze Chika, 20, resident of Ibagwa-Nike, and Chika Ndu, 25, resident of Ezeama-Nike, were arrested.”

Ndukwe said the suspects confessed to the crime, while some of their robbed victims had been able to identify them and items stolen from them at gun point recovered from them, according to the police PRO, include one pump action gun with two live cartridges, a dagger, assorted phones, an LG TV set, electronic cables, car batteries and a cash sum of N41, 070.00.

Meanwhile, the state commissioner of police, CP Ahmad AbdurRahman, has directed the transfer of the case to the state CID for discreet investigations and prosecution. AbdurRahman further called on residents of the state to remain vigilant, law-abiding and promptly report suspected criminals and acts of criminality to the nearest police station or call 08032003702, 08075390883, 08086671202 or 08098880172.