Accra, June 21, GNA 96 The Police on Wednesday said they have busted a 16- member syndicate of Nigerian armed robbers who had committed 31 robberies since February 2006 in and around Dome Pillar Two; West Legon; Kwabenya; Parakuo Estates; Ashongman; Haatso and Atomic areas.

They retrieved from them one Baikal Pump Action Gun; 59 12-bore AA cartridges; 32 rounds of ammunition; three locally manufactured pistols; one foreign made pistol and a cutter used for break-ins.

Those arrested include Emmanuel Emeka alias Big Ifeanyi; Ekena Fela Obinna; Promise; Samuel Tanko alias Funky and Joseph Chiojoke Four of the suspects, Emmanuel Benjamin; Precious Innoro; Kosisi Okechwuku and Godwin Nwankpo were arrested last year and had been helping the Police in their investigations.

The rest are on the run.

Chief Superintendent Bright Oduro, told the Ghana News Agency in Accra that the leader of the group, Emmanuel Emeka alias Big Ifeanyi, a giant, was arrested at Tudu where he had just disposed of some mobile phones he had snatched from their owners during the robberies.

Mr Oduro said the group operated at East Legon until two of them identified only as Valentine and Ottuo were killed early this year by residents during a robbery incident at East Legon.

Mr Oduro, who is the Regional Crime Officer, said after the death of the two the robbers changed their modus operandi and switched their operational grounds.

He said Big Ifeanyi always carried a pump action gun and strapped bullets in belts across his shoulders like a commando and with his huge frame most of the victims identified him.

The Police said Big Ifeanyi confessed to leading many of the robberies and mentioned some of his accomplices.

He said the suspects most often robbed their victims of laptops, mobile phones, jewellery, monies and they disposed of the items at Tudu, Accra.

A victim, Mr Kwame Owusu Danso, who resides at Dome Pillar Two, told the GNA that in the early hours of May 19, 2006, the gang including Big Ifeanyi burst into his house and held him at gunpoint, beat him up in his bedroom and looted his property.

Mr Danso said they took two million cedis and five dollars and took away a Master Card and Visa Card; 18 carat gold bracelet; five mobile phones and wedding rings belonging to him and his wife.