Tony Okafor, Awka
Two robbery suspects have escape lynching by a mob in Awka, Anambra State for trying to snatch a lady’s cash after she made withdrawal from Automated Teller Machine (ATM).
The suspects were reportedly beaten to stupor by the angry mob before police arrived the scene and rescued them.
The incident, our correspondent gathered, happened around 5pm on the Zik Avenue,Awka, Anambra State.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ikenga Tochukwu, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Wednesday, gave the names of the suspects as Stephen Okoye(19) and Chukwumeka Nwudo( 27), adding that a locally-made pistol and live cartridge were recovered from the suspects.
The PPRO said,” Police operatives at about 4:30pm rescued two suspects namely: one Okoye Stephen aged 19years and Chukwuemeka Nwudo age 27years from mob action along Zik’s Avenue Awka.
“The suspects were caught armed with a locally-made pistol in attempt to dispossess a young lady of her cash, after withdrawing money from ATM. The suspects were already beaten to stupor by the angry mob before police rescued them. The Operatives also recovered one locally-made pistol and one live cartridge from the criminals.”
Ikenga said the Commissioner of Police (CP) in state, Echeng Echeng while charging the operatives to sustain the tempo on the fight against violent crimes in the state, reiterated the advocacy against mob action/jungle justice.
The police spokesperson said CP enjoined the public to take suspects to police stations whenever they were apprehended to help the police to conduct proper investigations into the activities of the suspects and bring them to justice in accordance with extant laws.
The PPRO said in another development, “Anambra State police pperatives while on patrol along Obosi Nkpor road by Obosi town hall at about 11:39pm on Tuesday accosted a gang of armed men in white Toyota Hiace bus; red Toyota Corolla and a motorcycle.
“The operatives engaged the armed men in a gun battle, neutralized two of the hoodlums and recovered one pump action; one locally fabricated pistol and red Toyota Corolla with Reg nos. AKD 303 DW.”
He said during the gun duel with the hoodlums, the superior fire power of the operatives made the assailants to flee the scene with the Toyota Hiace bus and a motorcycle, adding that the police had intensified patrol in the area and improved operational positioning to respond to distress calls especially aimed at arresting other fleeing gang members.
Similarly, police operatives while on patrol on the central school road, Umusiomen Nkpor, Ogidi had recovered a white mercedes benz 350 with Reg. Nos RSH 836 BE suspected to have been abandoned by criminal elements.