The Anambra State Police Command on Monday paraded a nine-man gang that has been terrorising the people of Nanka in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state for years.

The gang led by one Ifedilichukwu Nwankwo allegedly chopped off the ear of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ajali Division (name withheld) who was at Nanka to effect arrest.

Also paraded was another gang of suspects led by one Elochukwu Boniface Ikechukwu a.k.a Idemili, a National Diploma student of a Federal higher institution in the state alleged to have conspired with others at large.

Parading the suspects at the State Anti Robbery Squad office at Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area of the state, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ali Okechukwu, said the Nanka community had been liberated by the arrest of the gang.

He said “On 17/02/2014 at about 9am hours one Okechukwu Udezuka of Oraifite and Ebuka surname unknown were shot dead at Tarzan, Nkpor by a gang of armed robbers.

“In the course of investigation one Emamanuel Nwabudu and Chigozie Nweke a.k.a Achito were arrested

“The suspects confessed one Ifedilichukwu Nwankwo of Nanka and others as those that attacked and killed Okechukwu Udezuka and Ebuka.

“Every attempt to arrest Ifedidilichukwu and his gang members proved abortive.

Okechukwu further said that on 27/06/2016, following a raid of Nanka community, Ifedilichukwu Nwankwo, Chidi Nwankwo and Udoye Kenechukwu were arrested saying that before the gang members met their end, the gang led by Ifedilichukwu Nwankwo has severally prevented the police from force CID Abuja, Zonal Headquarters Umuahia, from making any arrest at Nanka.

The PPRO also alleged that the gang burnt down a police Hilux van during an arrest in the community.

He said, “On 20/06/2016 a team led by the DPO Ajali Division, was ambushed at Nanka by the gang when they (police) went to effect arrest.

“The DPO Ajali was robbed of his handset and cash sums of money he was stripped naked and one of his ears chopped off. Equally his official uniform was torn to shreds”.

While disclosing that the DPO who narrowly escaped death is currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital, the PPRO noted that several cases of armed robbery/kidnapping, rape and assassination were trailed to Nanka, the reason police detectives made several but unsuccessful attempts to arrest the kingpins.

Also, the gang was said to have lured one Adimora Chukwudulue Emmanuel (now late) of Agbaja village, Abatete to Atani where they disposed him of his Toyota Camry car with registration number: FST962 DL valued at N950,000.

According to Ali, the suspects allegedly beat Adimora to death and dumped him inside a bush at Atanihe adding that the decomposing body was discovered after four days.

The suspect, who had been on the run, was later arrested on the 1st of July, 2016 and had confessed to the crime,” Ali said.

•Photo by Pamela Eboh shows the suspects.