Enugu: Police arrest suspected armed robber disguised as corps member

From Jude Chinedu, Enugu

The Enugu State Police Command has arrested a suspected armed robber who disguised himself in a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) uniform in an attempt to evade security checks while escaping with stolen items.

The suspect, identified as Chinecherem Ugwuagu, aged 25, was intercepted by operatives attached to the Safer Highway Patrol on 11 October 2025 along the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, the operatives recovered from the suspect an imitation gun made from a body lotion container wrapped in cloth, a robbed Carter motorcycle, clothes, an ATM card, and other stolen items.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect had earlier, around 8:00 a.m. the same day, broken into a victim’s residence at 9th Mile in Udi Local Government Area, where he threatened the victim with the fake gun and stole the recovered items.

In a bid to escape arrest, Ugwuagu reportedly wore an NYSC uniform to disguise himself, but his plan failed as he was stopped by alert officers who noticed suspicious behaviour and apprehended him.

The police said the suspect will be charged to court upon completion of investigations.

The Commissioner of Police, Bitrus Giwa, commended the operatives for their swift and professional action, describing it as a testament to the Command’s renewed commitment to tackling crime across the state.

He urged residents to remain vigilant, law-abiding, and to continue providing useful information that could help the police maintain peace and security in Enugu State.