The Nigeria Police Force has announced that they have apprehended all seven suspects involved in the attack on a bullion van on 29th of July which led to the death of four police officers, stealing of police firearms, injuries to several officers, and damage to the tyres of the bullion, in Abakaliki. The arrested include some serving and dismissed military men like Corporal Emeka Harrison, a native of Nsukka who once served in 7 Division Garrison in Maiduguri.

During an aggressive manhunt by the Inspector General Response Team (IRT), with technical intelligence support from the Technical Intelligence Unit TIU, the suspects were located in various places and arrested.

Recovered from the robbers, are twelve (12) improvised explosive devices; one GPMG, 6 rifles, 51 AK 47 magazines; 1,620 ammunition, two stolen vehicles, breaking tools and implements, as well as charms.

Arrested are one ALFRED ROBINSON, male, forty-five (45) years of age, an Ijaw man and native of Gelegele town in Ovia-North LGA of Edo State, who was arrested on the 1st of August 2020 in Asaba, Delta State; CORPORAL EMEKA HARRISON, Male, thirty-three (33) years old. He is a dismissed soldier who was prior to his dismissal in 2015, attached to the 7 Division Garrison in Maiduguri. He is a native of Nsukka in Nsukka East LGA of Enugu State; ABUCHI ELIJAH aka ‘Chime de Mosquito’ , male, a twenty-seven (27) years old native of Isialangwa, Abia State but resides in Bonsac Area of Asaba in Delta State; IBANIFIROI EKIENE, male, thirty-eight (38) years old Ijaw man from Tombia Community, in Dedema LGA of Rivers State; EMEKA ILLO, male, a thirty-seven (37) years old native of Igwachi Community of Oji LGA of Enugu State, who resides in Federal Housing Estate, Kubwa, Abuja; SUNDAY SOYEMU, male, Ijaw, forty-six (46) years old native of Alegene in Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa State; and finally, Sergeant AYENI SAMUEL, male of forty-three (43) years old, a soldier serving at Command Day Secondary School, Ikeja, Lagos. Soyemu is a native of Ilésà, State of Osun.

It is understood that EMEKA ILLO is the sponsor of the group’s expedition to Abakaliki that resulted in the murder of four police officers.

The gunmen attacked a bullion van in Abakaliki on the 29th of July, 2020 killing four police personnel and injuring at least two. They also made away with weapons belonging to the police. Although the bullion van suffered a lot of damage, its driver managed to escape to a nearby military checkpoint.