Three face trial for alleged car battery theft in Enugu

Three members of a car parts stealing syndicate arrested by operatives in the Awkunanaw Police Division of Enugu State will face trial upon the conclusion of an ongoing investigation.

This is according to a statement by the Enugu Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, on Monday.

Ndukwe, who identified the suspects as Eze Ebuka, Nnamdi Chukwuemeka and Friday Ilo, disclosed that they were arrested on June 7 at about 2 pm following a credible intelligence about their activities.

The PPRO noted that Ebuka and Chukwuemeka who had initially been arrested for the same offence, confessed to having stolen several vehicle batteries and sold them to Ilo who was also arrested by the police.

He said, “One Eze Ebuka, aged 24, Nnamdi Chukwuemeka, aged 21, and Friday Ilo, aged 31, all males, were arrested on June 7, 2024, around 2 pm, by police operatives serving in the Awkunanaw Division of the State Command.

“Their arrest followed the conduct of a covert operation by the operatives upon the receipt of complaints about the theft of several motor vehicle batteries at a construction site in Awkunanaw, Enugu.

“Eze Ebuka and Nnamdi Chukwuemeka, who were initially arrested in the act, upon interrogation confessed to having stolen many batteries, as alleged, and sold them to Friday Ilo, who was later arrested. 15 batteries, including those of articulated and other motor vehicles, and tricycles, were recovered from them.”

Ndukwe added that the trio of Ebuka, Chukwuemeka and Ilo would be prosecuted upon the conclusion of an ongoing investigation.

“The suspects will be arraigned and prosecuted once investigations are concluded.”

Stressing further, the PPRO noted that in another operation carried out by the command, a live pistol loaded with 36 rounds of ammunition was recovered in a bush at the Airport Corner area of Abakaliki in the state.

He noted that the gun was suspected to have been abandoned by criminals fleeing from police operatives.

In his words, “Police operatives serving in Emene Division of the Enugu State Command, working with law-abiding citizens, on June 16, 2024, around 7 pm, recovered a Beretta pistol with 36 rounds of .9 mm calibre ammunition in a bush at Airport Corner, by Old Abakaliki Road, Emene, Enugu.

“The exhibits are suspected to have been abandoned by criminal elements on the hot trail of the police operatives for allegations of armed robberies,” Ndukwe stated.