Igarra bank robbery: Police round up 6 more suspects, native doctor

AGENE GODWIN, Benin

Nearly three months after their operation in Igarra community in Edo State which left no less than six persons dead including two policemen, six more members of the robbery gang have been arrested in Okenne and Kaba in Kogi State by men of the police.

According to the police, the arrest was effected following a tip off as the robbers were traced from Edo to Kogi State.

Police spokesman in Edo State, Stephen Osifo, Thursday, confirmed the arrest of the suspected robbers whose identities he said included; Idris Shaibu, Daniel Moses, Audu Raman Simple, Abdulahi Isah, Jimoh Salau, Saliu Laisu and a native doctor.

He said other suspects are on the run as police continue their chase.

It was also gathered that 15 AK-47 rifles with 40 rounds of ammunition and 569 live ammunition and charms were recovered from the suspects.

Meanwhile, 46 suspected cultists have been arrested by men of the Edo state police command.

The move is to checkmate the resurgence of cult activities which has led to some killings in the state.

The 46 suspected cultists were said to be members of seven different secret cult groups in the state who are said to be currently at war with each other in some parts of Benin City that has led to the death of over four persons in the last two weeks.

Police were said to have stormed suspected cultists’ hideouts while they were said to be preparing to move to assassinate one Osas in front of the Urhokpota Hall in Benin city when they were caught.

Reports revealed that some policemen who were on surveillance around the Kings square in Benin city spotted three persons with a black bag who were subsequently stopped by the police for searching.

During the search the police recovered two locally-made cut-to-size double barrel guns and some live cartridges.

Two of which were arrested on the spot, the suspects told the police they were on a revenge mission to assassinate the said Osas near urhokpota Hall.