Jubilation in Imo state as police kill most-wanted and dreaded Imo armed robber

There was jubilation at the Imo State Police Command headquarters in Owerri when the remains of the state’s ‘most-wanted’ armed robber, Ihechi Nwankwo, were brought from Umuahia, the Abia State capital

The spokesman for the state Police Command, Andrew Enwerem, who spoke to reporters, said the armed robber had been on the wanted list of the command for a long time.

Ihechi, a 27-year-old who hailed from Amaumara in the Ezinihitte Mbaise area of the state, has been terrorising people of the state for so long.

Enwerem said Nwankwo had robbed a bank customer of N8m at Access Bank at Ahiara Junction on August 8.

He had also robbed one Jovita Enwerem of N650,000 at gunpoint at Ahiara Junction on June 21.

However, Nwankwo met his waterloo after he masterminded a robbery attack on a Chinese expatriate in Owerri in May.

The expatriate was said to have been dispossessed of his N10m, while his police guard was killed in the criminal operation.

Enwerem said:

“On September 28, the state police command control room was alerted to a robbery attack along Wetheral Road, Owerri.

“A customer of the Wetheral Road branch of Zenith Bank had gone to the bank to withdraw N50m. On their way, along Wetheral Road, they were confronted by a daredevil armed robbery gang operating with a grey colour Toyota Corolla with number plate ABJ 951AA that blocked the convoy and immediately opened fire on the police escorts.”

The police spokesman stated that the robbers engaged the cops in a gun duel but they were overpowered by the police.

He said three policemen, however, sustained gunshot injuries and were already being treated in the hospital.

Enwerem said,

“The criminals escaped from the robbery scene but their vehicle was riddled with bullets. We, however, contacted police in the neighbouring states to be on the lookout.

“Subsequently, the criminals were intercepted in Umuahia, Abia State, where they engaged the operatives in a gun duel.

“One of the gang members was gunned down while the others escaped with bullet injuries and the ash coloured Toyota Corolla car was also recovered.”

The police spokesperson further revealed that investigation by the command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad operatives showed that the elder brother of the slain robber, one Chibuike Nwankwo, 42, and Chukwudi Obinwanne, a native of Ugiri in Isiala Mbano LGA of the state, were being held at SARS cell for bank robbery cases.

The two suspects in the police custody, however, denied the allegation when reporters sought to know their level of involvement in the crimes.