You hear some stories and you are like...
Could this really be true? This is one of
such stories:
An area known as Imeohia Mmaku in
Awgu LGA of Enugu State recently came
under the siege of robbers cum
kidnappers, who invaded the community
to perpetrate their heinous crime. On the
fateful day, a priest was said to have led
some notorious gang of robbers/
kidnappers in the deadly operation.
While the operation lasted, the gang
sealed off entrances and exits to the
community. Clad in a white cassock, Rev.
Fr. James Ani, in company with about
eight other people held the community
by the jugular and laid siege on their prey
for hours.
It was gathered that they combed the
community to see if they could find a
prime target to kidnap on which they
could feed. As the siege was going on, a
team of anti-robbery patrol team usually
on routine checks on communities in the
state was passing by and accosted the
gang.
On seeing the police team, Fr. Ani
reportedly commanded his ‘boys’ to
launch offensive. Wielding dangerous
weapons, the gang reportedly engaged
the police team in fierce gun duel which
further sent habitants of the community
and travellers scampering for safety.
During the clash, Fr. Ani and his gang
reportedly got hold of one Inspector
Cosmas Nzeribe and a couple of his
colleagues, and almost sniffed life out of
them. They however bowed to the
superior firepower of the law
enforcement agents leading to their
arrest. Before they were arrested, the
hoodlums damaged the two vehicles
used by the police.
In the end, Fr. Ani and three others;
Ugwu Marcel, Obasi Felix and Norbert Eke
were arrested and taken to custody.
About five other members of the gang
escaped from the scene of the attack.
In a chat with reporters, an eye witness,
who identified himself as Okey, said: “I
ply this road very often and I can tell you
that most travellers had had harrowing
experiences to share about this place. It
is such a bad spot and when the robbers
were arrested and we saw a supposed
man of God among them, not many of us
were surprised because we had
experienced that before in this area.
Criminals would put on cloths meant for
the clergymen to rob people. Thank God,
this one was caught.”
At the time of his arrest, Fr. Ani claimed
that he is not a robber but a priest.
However, upon interrogation, he
confessed to his crime, saying he was
pushed into the crime due to lull in his
business.
Spokesman of Enugu Police Command,
Ebere Amaraizu confirmed the arrest. He
said “The Commissioner of Police has said
it many times that there is no hiding
place for criminals again in Enugu. This
statement he is matching with actions
which are evident in the arrest of the
four suspects. Imagine someone
supposed to be a man of God, being the
ring leader in such a crime!”
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