Police arrest 16 suspects linked to killings of security operatives across the country

The Nigeria Police has arrested sixteen suspects including a pastor allegedly involved in series of violent and unprovoked attacks on security operatives and facilities in some states, particularly in the south-eastern part of the country. 

 In a statement released over the weekend, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, Frank Mba, said that the arrest was made in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force following sustained and intelligence-driven sting operations.

He gave the names of some of the suspects as Ugochukwu Samuel, Raphael Idang, Cletus Nwachukwu Egole, a pastor with the holy blessed trinity sabbath church, Orlu, Imo state, Michael Uba, a prophet with the association of Jewish faith, and twelve others. 

 Mba said some of the weapons recovered from the suspects include sophisticated firearms, live ammunition, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), camouflage bullet-proof vests, walkie-talkies, and other incriminating items.

 He added that the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has restated that the Force will not tolerate any further attack on its personnel or any citizen by any individual or group under any guise whatsoever.

He assured that law enforcement agents have gathered sufficient intelligence on the attackers and are closing up on scores of suspects already implicated in the attacks either directly or indirectly for financing, aiding, and abetting the criminals.

 He insists that no murderer will go unpunished.