Photos: Police confirms killing of E-Money, arrest of his gang over kidnap of South African-based Nigerian man, his driver and two others in Imo

The Imo State Police Command have confirmed the death of notorious leader of a kidnap-armed robbery gang and arrest of his members during a gun duel with the police at Atta in Ikeduru L.G.A.

Recall that the former police officer-turned armed robber, Collins Ezenwa alias Emoney and two members of his gang were shot dead by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) during a robbery operation in Imo State on Saturday, January 27. Read here

A statement issued on Wednesday, January 31, by the spokesperson for the command, SP Andrew Enwerem said SARS operatives smashed the gang following the arrest of one Chibuzor Uche, 19, and Onyekachi Okorom, 36.

"Following the kidnap of one Hon Chief Linus Anyaghara ‘m’ 52yrs, his driver Cosmi Mbachu ‘m’ and one Vitalis Ogohe ‘m’ 58yrs and the robbery of his Toyota Sequoia jeep on 13/12/2017 and the subsequent kidnap of one Obinwanne Agugum who returned from South Africa and his driver Chima on 13/01/2018 respectively, the Commissioner of Police CP Chris Ezike charged the operatives of the command to work assiduously to apprehend the perpetrators of the crime," the statement reads.

"The concerted efforts of operatives of the Command Federal SARS paid off leading to the arrest of the following suspects one Chibuzor Uche ‘m’ 19yrs and Onyekachi Okorom ‘m’ 36yrs with the robbed Toyota Sequoia jeep. During interrogation, the suspects mentioned one Chitachi Ogbonna aka Nwaotu ‘m’ 24yrs and one Chidera Nzeagwu aka Pharoah ‘m’ 36yrs as their cohorts in the crime."

"In a reconstructive investigation, the arrested suspects disclosed the leader of their gang referred simply as their chairman and subsequently led SARS operatives to their detention facility at Atta in Ikeduru L.G.A where they disclosed the chairman of their gang and other members of the syndicate could be found."

"One of the suspects Chinwedum Sylvester Ahalaonu led the operatives to their hideout. On sighting the operatives, their chairman and two others engaged the operatives in a shoot out.
During the encounter, the three suspects were fatally gunned down and were later confirmed dead.

"They kingpin of the gang referred to as chairman was later identified to be one Collins Ezinwa aka e-money. All the arrested suspects have confessed their roles in various robbery and kidnapping cases within Imo State and its environs."

Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Chris Okey Ezike, expressed satisfaction on the ability of operatives of the command and has promised that the command will continue to mop up criminal elements disturbing the peace of the state.

He disclosed that the Command has moved to identify properties owned by the suspects which were acquired with the ill gotten wealth.

See names of the suspects and list of arms and ammunition as well as other exhibits recovered from them.

(1) CHETACHI OGBONNA ‘M’ 36 YRS aka NWAOTU OF UMUOPARA AMUZU OBINGWA L.G.A. ABIA STATE

(2) CHIDERA NZEAGWU ‘M’ 28YRS aka PHARAOH OF UMUKPABIRI NSOKPO OGBAKU MBAITOLI L.G.A

(3) CHINWENDUM SYLVESTER AHALAONU ‘M’ 24YRS OF OLORI AMARAKU ISIALA MBANO L.G.A

(4) OKORO UCHECHUKWU ‘M’ 31YRS OF UMUERENWANYI ISIEKE AWO OMAMMA ORU EAST L.G.A

(5) COLLINS EZINWA ‘M’ aka CHAIR (e-money) UMUCHIEZE UMUNNEOCHI L.G.A. ABIA STATE (DECEASED)

EXHIBITS:

(1) ONE AK 47 RIFLE BREACH NO. 20193

(2) ONE ENGLISH PISTOL SMITH AND WESSON MOD 410 BREACH NO. TDRZ 175

(3) TWO PUMP ACTION GUNS

(4) ONE BLACK PRADO LAND CRIUSER JEEP WITH REG NO PF 1843 SPY

(5) ONE VOLKSWAGON JETTA CAR WITH REG NO SMK 677 EU

(6) 26 ROUNDS OF LIVE BERETTA AMMUNITION

(7) 96 ROUNDS OF LIVE AK 47 AMMUNITION

(8) TWO NEW AK 47 MAAGAZINES FULLY LOADED

(9) CASH OF N390, 000.00.

(10) DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHARMS