The Rivers State Police Command has announced the arrest of masterminds of PortHarcourt-Owerri expressway.
Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Mustapha Bala in a press briefing on Wednesday 23rd October,2024 said the Rivers State Police Command has apprehended three notorious kidnap suspects, Blessing Akpelu, Precious Ebee, and Wisdom Oto Amadi following a series of highway robberies and kidnappings along the Port Harcourt-Owerri Expressway. .
CP Bala explained that Mr Bessing Akpelu alias NTA 20 years old, Mr Precious Ebee ‘30 years old, and Mr Wisdom Amadi 28 years old, all natives of Egbeda in Emohua LGA are known for orchestrating roadblocks to trap unsuspecting travellers and have been under police surveillance after an alarming spike in kidnappings, including the abduction of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member and two others along the Elele/Omerelu axis of the expressway.
The Rivers Police Chief explained that Preliminary investigations revealed that the gang would frequently set up illegal roadblocks at strategic points along the expressway before attacking motorists at gunpoint and taking hostages for ransom.
“The first two suspects were arrested on the 17th of October 2024 by men of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Rivers State Police Command while the third suspect, Wisdom Amadi, who was identified as the gang leader was arrested at Egbeda on the 19th of October 2024. They have confessed to crimes of Kidnapping. Their arrest was made possible after the Police traced their whereabouts through intelligence gathered” CP Bala stated.
Relatively, the Rivers State Police Command says the command has successfully conducted two coordinated operations in the Elechi Beach and Nanka waterfront areas, targeting criminal hideouts believed to be hubs for illegal activities.
CP Bala revealed that the Police acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the C4i Strike Force (Octopus) launched strategic raids in both locations, leading to the arrest of a notorious armed robber, and the recovery of one vehicle, arms and ammunition.
He said, in the first operation, conducted at approximately 7 pm on the 18th of October 2024, the operatives stormed a hideout in the Elechi Beach axis in Diobu Port Harcourt. Several illegal firearms and rounds of ammunition were seized during the raid.
“The items recovered include an English revolver pistol with thirty-five rounds of 8.1mm live ammunition and one Excam Hialeah pistol with two rounds of 9mm live ammunition. Suspects evaded arrest by fleeing into the nearby river.
“The second operation took place shortly afterwards at a suspected criminal den in the Nanka waterfront area of Diobu, Port Harcourt where a blue Toyota Corolla with Registration number BDG 44 HE, belonging to one Iviuboosun Usanavi Okuru of no 24 Ada Williams which was robbed at gunpoint along education bus-stop was recovered.
“In the same swoop, the Police arrested one Baridam Berebom ‘m’ of Mogho in Gokana LGA. He was arrested with an SMG Rifle with which he and his gang robbed a female NYSC corps member of her iPhone 12.
The Police swiftly responded to a distress call about the robbery and gave hot pursuit of the armed robbers. The suspect was arrested while other gang members fled. The victim’s phone and the operational weapon were recovered” CP Bala said.
CP Bala further assured Rivers State that the command remains resolute in its efforts to protect lives and property while urging members of the public to continue to cooperate with the police by providing timely and credible information.
