Police Arrest Four-Man Gang Specialising in Tricycle and Phone Snatching in Anambra
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a four-man criminal gang notorious for snatching tricycles and mobile phones along the Awka–Ifite axis, a corridor heavily populated by students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
The arrest was confirmed in a press statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who disclosed that operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Akwuzu, carried out the operation in the early hours of Monday, 25th August 2025.
Items Recovered from the Suspects
Recovered items from the gang include:
- Nine mobile phones, including an iPhone reported stolen from a victim
- One laptop computer
- Two tricycles with registration numbers LSD 464 QP and BLF 552 VH
- Four additional tricycle plate numbers used to disguise stolen vehicles
- A substance suspected to be hard drugs
How They Were Arrested
The police explained that the suspects were intercepted during a routine night patrol along the Agu Awka–Ifite Awka road. Upon interrogation, the young men confessed to being part of a syndicate that had terrorised students and residents in the area by robbing them of valuables.
The suspects were identified as:
- Nnaji Chidera, 19
- Chijioke Mmaduabuchi, 21
- Wisdom Ogbonna, 19
- Afamefuna Egbe, 20
According to their confession, the group frequently changed tricycle plate numbers to conceal their identity during operations.
Police Commissioner’s Warning
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, commended the RRS operatives for their swift action and assured residents that the police remain committed to flushing out criminal elements from the state.
He also issued a stern warning to youths against indulging in crime, stressing that the command will not hesitate to ensure that offenders face the full weight of the law.
Safety of Students and Residents
Akahi News gathered that the Awka–Ifite axis, being a student-dominated area, has been prone to cases of phone and tricycle snatching in recent months. The police assured that ongoing night patrols and surveillance will continue to curb criminal activities and restore confidence among students and residents.
With the suspects now in custody, the Anambra State Police Command said investigations are ongoing, and further updates will be communicated to the public.
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