A 200 Level student of computer science in Imo State University, Owerri, Daniel Ikechukwu, 22; and his 18-year-old accomplice, Goodluck Kalu, were on Tuesday night apprehended in Owerri, the state capital, for alleged robbery.
A student (name withheld) told our correspondent on Wednesday that the suspects were arrested while allegedly robbing students of their phones, money and other valuables at gunpoint.
She said the incident took place along the IMSU front gate before the extension area of the varsity, between 9:30pm and 10pm.
A Police source who refused to disclose his name because he was not permitted to speak to the press said while two of the suspected gunmen were caught, the leader of the gang escaped.
He said, “We received a distress call from some student leaders that some boys were robbing students, mostly girls, of their money, phones and other valuables and we quickly moved operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad of the command to the scene.”
He explained that with strategic approach without exchange of gunfire, two of the three-man gang, including a student of IMSU who was writing the ongoing second semester examinations, were nabbed.
The IMSU undergraduate, who confessed to the crime, told our correspondent from the cell on Wednesday that it was unfortunate that his younger colleague who led him into crime escaped.
Ikechukwu said, “It was my younger colleague who is in year one that led me into crime.
“He uses fake gun to rob students, especially female students. He convinced me to join him. I recruited Goodluck, who was my neighbour. This is the second time we did it together.”
Our correspondent gathered that while Kalu hails from Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Ikechukwu is an indigene of Ngor Okpala LGA, both in Imo State.
Confirming the incident to our correspondent, the state Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, said the two boys were arrested and a fake metal they disguised as a gun which they used in instilling fears on their victims was recovered.
Ezike said, “This is one of the results of our overt and covert strategic policing. We are aware that some of the higher institutions in the state are writing their second semester and degree examinations.
“And we know that there would be upsurge in cult and crime-related activities on the campuses. We had to move our men to Imo State University, Federal University of Technology, Owerri; and Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, to deal with the situations.”
