The Police have arrested the most wanted criminal in the country who killed over 50 victims, including policemen in Abia and Imo states and in other South-South states.
The kingpin, Emmanuel Nnamdi Ebulu, alias "Stone" aged 32 years, was the second in command to one "Osisikankwu," the notorious armed robber and kidnapper who was killed in Abia in 2010, while his lieutenants continued the mayhem.
The suspects arrested with others are Chidi Udochi (30); Chukwuma Anueze (48) and Igwe Okechukwu (25).They were arrested after killing three persons in Akwa-Ibom State in a daredevil robbery attack last week.
The AIG, zone 6, Muhammed Abubakar, who paraded the suspects at the force headquarters Abuja, on Wednesday said they were heavily armed and shot sporadically at motorists and passengers alike and at the end of the operation, three persons were killed.Their names were given as Emmanuel James Akpan (53), Archibong Akpan Udoette(45) and Bassey Okon Ekpenyong (45).
The bandits also dispossessed people of their money and other valuables and snatched a Toyota Hilux vehicle with registration number AE675KTS, belonging to Ibom Power Company Ltd. after killing the driver. Police investigation commenced immediately and with the assistance of the tracking technology, the Toyota Hilux vehicle was traced to Omasi Street, Rumuomasi Port- Harcourt, wherein three suspects were arrested excluding the receptionist of the guest house which made the number.
According to him, they were: Emmanuel Joseph Ebulu alias "Stone" aged 32 years and hails from Ozatta in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State, Chukwunna Anueze aged 48 years, a tanker driver by profession who hails from Atta village in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, Chidi Udochi aged 30 years, a motor conductor who hails from Owerri Obiuno in Orlu LGA of Imo State and Igwe Okechukwu Gift, aged 25 years, a receptionist attached to Fson Guest House, Port Harcourt.
in command to Osisikankwu, the notorious gang leader in Aba who met his waterloo recently.
Stone, before his arrest presided over an expansive criminal empire made up of over 50 gang members with unparallel sophistication weaponry and has made useful statements to the investigators including confessions to the following armed robberies; armed robbery at Union Bank, First Bank and Zenith Bank at Osisioma in 2010 during which they made away with over N30 million.
Other banks they attacked include; First Bank Abak, Akwa-Ibom State, where they made away with N10 million but lost two gang members namely Lucky and Danga in January 2010, First Bank Ikot Abasi, the operation was foiled and they lost nine gang members including Owem who brought them to Ikot Abasi in December 2009, Fidelity Bank Flyover Aba in 2010 and First Bank Ikot Ekpene in 2007.
An Associated Press reporter at the scene said the blast occurred in the parking lot at police headquarters and more than 50 cars had been damaged and burnt by the explosion. The reporter saw emergency workers carry away a dismembered body hit by the blast.Yushau Shuaib, spokesman for Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency told AP at least one person has died, but had no further details.
