In a major breakthrough against motorcycle theft, operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have arrested a notorious robbery suspect and two alleged receivers of stolen motorcycles in Awka-Etiti, Idemili South Local Government Area.
The arrest, carried out by officers attached to the Nnobi Division under the Ogidi Area Command, was achieved in collaboration with the Awka-Etiti Vigilante Group in the early hours of October 13, 2025.
Police identified the prime suspect as Chiemerie Okeke, who has allegedly been involved in a string of motorcycle snatching operations in the area.
According to the Command, the arrest led to the recovery of four Kymco 125 motorcycles, all suspected to have been stolen from different parts of the state.
The successful operation followed a report made on October 11, 2025, by a victim who narrated how he was attacked while returning home with his wife on a black Kata Pen motorcycle.
He explained that two young men suddenly overtook and forced them to stop before dispossessing them of their motorcycle at gunpoint.
Following the report, operatives launched a swift intelligence-driven investigation, deploying surveillance and tracking mechanisms to identify and locate the suspects.
After days of coordinated monitoring, police officers, with support from local vigilantes, stormed Iruowelle Village in Awka-Etiti, where the suspects were arrested.
The operation also resulted in the recovery of four motorcycles believed to have been stolen from various victims across the community.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the recovered motorcycles were being prepared for sale to unsuspecting buyers through criminal networks operating within and outside the state.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, fwc, minps, PhD, praised the synergy between the police operatives and the Awka-Etiti Vigilante Group for their professionalism and dedication.
He described the arrest as a demonstration of the Command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks and ensuring safety across all communities in the state.
The Commissioner further called on residents to continue supporting the police by providing credible and timely information that could help prevent and combat crime.
“Community partnership remains the backbone of effective policing,” he said, urging citizens to trust the police and report suspicious movements promptly.
Police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, assured that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
He reiterated the Command’s resolve to maintain aggressive operations across the state to curb theft, robbery, and other social vices.
