Christmas Day Robbery Thwarted In Awka As Residents Aid’s Police Arrest Of Suspect 

By Samuel Sunday 

An attempted armed robbery on Christmas Day in Awka, Anambra State, has been foiled following the efforts of the residents and the swift intervention of police operatives, leading to the arrest of a suspect and the recovery of a firearm and other items.

Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command attached to the Central Police Station (CPS), Awka, arrested the suspect, identified as Nicholas Nweke, after responding to a distress situation during the late hours of the day. 

The police also recovered a pump-action rifle, five expended cartridges, one Itel mobile phone, and a cash sum of ₦1,200 from the suspect.

According to police sources, the responding officers arrived at the scene and met the victim locked in a physical struggle with the suspect over a firearm. With the assistance of the police team, the suspect was successfully disarmed and taken into custody.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect had approached the victim and demanded his mobile phone and other valuables. When the victim resisted, the suspect allegedly opened fire in an attempt to force compliance.

During the shooting, pellets from the firearm reportedly struck two unsuspecting individuals who were in the area at the time of the incident. The victims sustained injuries and were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

Police authorities confirmed that the injured persons are currently in stable condition and responding positively to treatment.

The Anambra State Police Command stated that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, for discreet and comprehensive investigation to uncover possible accomplices and establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Ikenga Tochukwu, assured residents that further updates would be communicated as investigations progress, while urging members of the public to remain vigilant and continue cooperating with security agencies, especially during the festive season.