Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command, attached to the Ozalla Division, in collaboration with Neighbourhood Watch personnel, have dismantled a notorious armed robbery and mini truck-snatching syndicate. The operation, which took place on May 11, 2025, around 3:00 p.m., led to the arrest of one suspect, the rescue of a kidnapped driver, and the recovery of a stolen Daihatsu Hijet mini truck, popularly called “Diana.”
The arrested suspect, Chinedu Onwuka, aged 35, and his accomplices—who are currently at large—had hired the truck driver under the pretense of transporting sand from the Ogbete area of Enugu to Umuatuaboma in Nkanu West Local Government Area. However, during the trip, the suspects diverted the vehicle off the Umuatuaboma–Obuofia Road into a bush at gunpoint. There, they tied the driver to a tree and fled with the vehicle.
Swift action by the police led to the rescue of the victim and the arrest of Onwuka, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing gang members.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and revealed his involvement in a similar robbery the previous month, for which he received ₦90,000 as his share from the sale of another stolen mini truck.
Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, psc, has reiterated the Command’s commitment to rooting out criminal elements across the state. He also issued a caution to mini truck and commercial vehicle operators, urging them to exercise vigilance when accepting haulage jobs, particularly from unfamiliar individuals or to remote destinations.
The investigation remains active as police continue their search for the remaining suspects.