The Rivers State Police Command says it has arrested thirty suspected criminals and rescued seven kidnapped victims recently.
The Commissioner of Police,CP Eboka Friday made the disclosure during a press briefing in PortHarcourt at Police headquarters,Moscow road.
CP Eboka gave the break down of the achievements in the period under review as follows:
No of Suspects arrested…………………………30No of Arms recovered…………………………..6No of Ammunitions……………………………..8No of magazine…………………………………..1No of Kidnapped Victims rescued……………..7No of child rescued ……………………………..1
A CASE OF MISSING CHILD: A case of missing child was reported atIsiokpo Division by one Progress Emmanuel on the 24th May 2022, the case was later transferred to CP Monitoring Unit on the 4th of May 2022, the Operatives swung into action and rescued one Favor Emmanuel ‘f’ age 5yrs old, who has been reported missing since 20th May 2022, at Omagwa in Ikwere Local Government Area, Rivers State. Further investigation reveals that the child was stolen and sold to a couple in Owerri in Imo State for the rate of Six Hundred Thousand naira (N600, 000 .00) only, by the complainant elder sister
Edith Ejike ‘f’ age 30 years old with her accomplice.ii). Prince Ugun ‘m’ age 34 years oldiii). Nkiruka Samuel ‘f’ age 26 years oldThey all confess to the crime, will be charged to court as soon as investigation is over. The child has been handed over to her parents.
2. ARREST OF RAPIST: On 12th of June 2022, Operatives of Puff Adder while on stop and search along Air Port road, they sighted a Mazda 323 with Reg. No SKN 187 where a female passenger one Gift Joshua Sunday was screaming for help. They immediately intercepted the vehicle and the lady narrated how the driver had unlawful carnal knowledge of her. The driver, one Victor Orobo age 30yrs was arrested, confessed to the crime and will be arraign in court soon.
3. RECOVERY OF STOLEN VEHICLE: A case of stolen vehicle was reported at Elekahia Division on the 26th April, 2022, by one Kenneth Okorie m. He reported that a Toyota corolla 2006 model with Reg/No BH 697 AKD, blue in color was stolen from his residence. Operatives of the Command swung into action and recovered the said vehicle in Nasarawa State on 3rd June 2022, at the point of selling it for One Million Naira Only (N1, 000, 000. 00). The suspects have been arrested while investigation is still in progress.Names of suspects i) LawanGemelu ‘m’ age 30 years old ii) Goba Abdulla ‘m’ age 33 years old Exhibits recovered One Toyota corolla with registration number BH 697 AKD blue in color.
4. ATTEMPTED TO PROCURE: On 14th June 2022, Operatives of C4i Intelligence Unit through credible information that some men from Billee Waterside came to AbonemaWhalf to purchase four AK47 riffles on meeting of the information, Operatives of C4i Intelligence Unit swung into action and arrested two suspects and recovered the sum of One Million, Three Hundred Thousand only (N1.3m) that was meant to purchase the fire arms, during interrogation. The suspects confess to the crime that they want to use the arms to guard their camps in Bonny/Degema water-way, investigation ongoing.The names of suspects are:Precious Cosmos ‘m’ age 26 years oldTonye Briggs ‘m’ age 33 years old.
5.RESCUE OF KIDNAPPED VICTIM/ARREST OF A NOTORIOUS KIDNAPPER AND RECOVERY OF FIREARM: On 20th May 2022, Operatives of Anti-Kidnapping Unit, acting on credible intelligence, combed Kani bush, in Khana Local Government Area of the State and rescued one Nancy Uche, who was kidnapped at YKC junction on 17th May, 2022. One Pascal Bukwu ‘m’ 25 years was arrested in connection with the kidnap, Exhibit recovered one locally made shot gun with five rounds of cartridge6. ARREST OF KIDNAPPERS: On 28th May 2022, Operatives of the Anti-kidnapping Unit, arrested one Messiah Wisdom Kelechi ‘m’ who invited his victim to his house and drugged her, slept with her while videoing the escapade afterwhich the suspects demanded for ransom from her husband the sum of One Million Naira (N1, 000, 000 .00) if not he will send the video viral upon which Operatives of the Command swung into action and arrested the suspect and rescue the victim at Queens Park Estate, Rumudara Port Harcourt. The victim is undergoing medical treatment. 7. RESCUE OF KIDNAPPED VICTIM, ARREST OF NOTORIOUS KIDNAPPERS AND RECOVERY OF FIREARMS: On 26th May 2022, Operatives of the Anti-Kidnaping unit through Intelligence-led policing stormed Dekeens bush in Gokana Local Government Area where one Engr, Titus Ulakah ‘m’ who was kidnapped on the 23rd of May, 2022 at YKC Woji Port-Harcourt had been kept. The police successfully rescued the victim who has since reunited with his family members while the suspects were arrested namely;(i) Luke Earnest ‘m’ age 24 years (ii) Mina Sotan ‘M’ age 22 Exhibit recovered;(i) One pump action gun and three cartridges
8. ARREST OF SEA PIRATES AND RESCUE OF KIDNAP VICTIMS: On 25th May 2022, Operatives of the C4i Intelligence Unit arrested one Daniel Precious Hezekiah ‘m’ age 23 years old in connection with the kidnap of four victims along Dutch Island, Onne, Rivers State. The suspects led Operatives to their hideout in Nkpor Waterside, where the victims were rescued unhurt. The rescued victims are:i. Elder Robert Tolofofari ‘m’ aged 78 yrsii. Emiboy Trust ‘m’ aged 35 yrsiii. Albert Tonworjo ‘m’ aged 35 yrs andiv. Washington Hezekiah ‘m’ aged 44 yrs.9. ARREST OF NOTORIOUS ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECTS: On 7th May, 2022, Operatives of the C4i Strike Force arrested a four-man armed robbery gang members and lock ran out of them when they booked a bolt Mazda Car with registration No. ABM 885 RR By one Anechor Diamond Okala ‘m’ a driver of a bolt ,while on transit, strangled him and carted away his car, which was later recovered. Investigation is ongoing to identify and round up other members of the gang.Names of suspects arrested:i. Samuel Emmanuel ‘m’ aged 23yrsii. Israel Mark Johnson ‘m’ aged 23yrs andiii. Emmanuel Friday ‘m’ aged 21yrsExhibit recovered: Mazda Car with registration No. ABM 885 RR
10) ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECTS AND RECOVERY OF A TRUCK LOADED WITH 1050 BAGS OF FERTILIZER:Operatives of Elimgbu undercover on 10th June 2022, responded to a distress call at Oil Mill Flyover where they arrested three armed robbers, with a white Hilux car, who attacked one Mohammed Sule ‘m’ the driver of a DAF Truck with Reg. No. PKM 491 XA, which carried One Hundred and Fifty (N150, 000 .00) bags of fertilizer valued Twenty Two million Naira (N22, 000,000. 00) and the DAF truck valued Twenty Three Million Naira (N23,000,000.00) from Onne for delivery in Kano State. The robbers attacked and took them to Igbo/Etche bush where they diverted the goods and lorry. However, on sighting the police the hijacker’s zoomed off. Operatives swung into action and gave them a hot chase which led to their arrest while one of them was fatally wounded. Investigation is still in progress Names of suspectsi) Jiddda Usman ‘m’ age 40 years old ii) Iliya Adamu ‘m’ age 34 years old iii) Haruna Garuba ‘m’ age 33 years old iv) Emmanuel Iyam ‘m’ age 21 years old v) Musa Samaila ‘m’ age 35 years oldVI) ZubairoAb dulasalem ‘m’ 35 years old.
11. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF FIRE ARMS: On 12th June, 2022, Operatives attached to Operation Puff Adder while on routine patrol along Day Hotel Rumuekini in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Port -Harcourt arrested one Kingsley Timothy of same address in possession of a firearm and he could not give a satisfactory account of it. Investigation is ongoing. Exhibit recovered One locally made single barrel gun
12. ARREST OF NOTORIOUS KIDNAPPER: On 2nd of June 2022, Operatives of the C4i Intelligence Unit, while on a follow-up a case where one David Kalu Onyems ‘m’ was kidnapped between Abia and Rivers State boundary on 19th May, 2022, arrested one Ubong Emmanuel ‘m’ who confessed to the crime and led the Operatives to a shallow grave where the victim was buried. The body has been exhumed and deposited at the mortuary, awaiting a postmortem examination. Other suspects arrested as a result of follow-up investigations are;i. Kenneth Owhonda ‘m’ aged 18yrsii. Goodness Kalu Smart ‘m’ aged 18yrsiii. Dennis Igwe ‘m’ aged 18yrsiv. IbentaOha ‘m’ aged 18yrsv. Idaresit Emmanuel Kpene a.k.a Daddy Boy ‘m’ aged 20yrsvi. Favour John ‘m’ aged 18yrsvii. Mercy Udoh ‘m’ aged 43yr
Exhibits recovered from them include;i. One AK47 magazine, andii. One Pistol
13. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF FIRE ARMS: On 14th June 2022, Operatives of C4i Intelligence Unit through credible information that some men from Billee Waterside came to Abonema Whalf to purchase four AK47 riffles on meeting of the information, Operatives of C4i Intelligence Unit swung into action and arrested two suspects and recovered the sum of One Million, Three Hundred Thousand only (N1, 300, 000 .00) that was meant to purchase the fire arms, during interrogation. The suspects confess to the crime that they want to use the arms to guard their camps in Bonny/Degema water-way, investigation ongoing.The names of suspects are:Precious Cosmos ‘m’ age 26 years oldTonye Briggs ‘m’ age 33 years old.
The CP assured the citizens of the state that the momentum in the fight against crime and other vices will be sustained with gusto to ensure peace and tranquility continue to reign in the state.
