Police arrest illegal firearms manufacturer in Ebonyi

[Mirror]

•Hold sacked prison worker for car snatching The Ebonyi State Police Command yesterday in Abakaliki arrested an illegal firearms manufacturer, Mr. Elu Echem, who was alleged to have produced and sold hundreds of weapons to youths.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Sylvester Igbo, said that a dismissed prison worker was also arrested for alleged car snatching.

He said Echem and the suspected car snatcher were arrested following the collaborative effort of the President of Ebonyi Youth Assembly.

Igbo said that Echem's arrest was made possible through the arrest of one Okechukwu Emmanuel, a native of Amanike Awka in Anambra State, with locally made pistol after an attempted robbery.

He said: "The police arrested one Elu Echem, the manufacturer of the pistol and Egwu Ukoh, the suspected armed robber. One locallymade long gun with some cartridges, including those expended was recovered from him. He is from Amelu Ugwu- Egwu in Afikpo North Local Government Area. He has made useful statement and will soon be charged to court"

The police spokesman, however, added that the dismissed prison worker confessed that he snatched an 18-seater bus in Lagos State.

He was arrested at the popular Ochoudo Park in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

Igbo said: "The police arrested one Sunday Nwaogbaga (30) and recovered a Toyota 18-seater bus from him at Ochoudo Park in Abakaliki on June 19, 2013. On interrogation, he confessed that he snatched the bus in Lagos State from one Ifeanyi on June 1, 2013"

Igbo appealed to the members of the public to collaborate with security agents to combat violent crimes in the state.

He also urged them to volunteer information that could aid the arrest of criminals to the security agents.

National Mirror