Four nabbed for hijacking cement-laden truck

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a four-man gang said to specialise in hijacking truckloads of cement.

The command also recovered a truck laden with 900 bags of cement from the gang.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Haruna Mohammed, disclosed this on Tuesday in a statement.

He said the suspects hijacked the truck in Uromi, Edo State.

He said their arrest followed a report that a Hraowo truck with number plate AAA 715 YA, which was laden with 900 bags of cement belonging to BUA Cement Company, Okpella, was snatched by a robbery syndicate in Uromi.

“The truck was diverted to Anambra State by the suspects after allegedly inflicting deep machete cuts on the driver, leaving him unconscious,” Mohammed stated.

He added that following the report, police operatives attached to the Bridgehead Division, in conjunction with the command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad, mobilised to the Onitsha Bridgehead and intercepted the truck, leading to the arrest of the suspects.

Mohammed gave the names of the suspects as Anayo Ulugha, 26, from Orlu, Imo State; Omoke Chigozie, 28, also from Orlu, Imo State; and Joseph Agu, 24, from Omuma, Imo State.

He said, “The suspects voluntarily confessed to snatching the truck on the around 4.30am and were heading for Imo State when they were intercepted.

“Consequently, the suspects led police detectives to Orlu in Imo State, where their gang leader, one Chinonso Onuigbo, 44, from Orlu, was also arrested.

The PPRO added that exhibits recovered from the suspects included a truck, 900 bags of cement and a machete, which they allegedly used to attack the truck driver.

He said the suspects would be charged after investigation.

Mohammed added that a similar incident occurred a few months ago on the Onitsha-Owerri Road in Anambra State before the Commissioner of Police, John Abang, ordered an intensive patrol of the area, which forced the syndicate to flee the state.