Rivers Police Pick Six Suspected Criminals, Recover Gun, Two Cars

Operatives of the C4i Intelligence Unit of Rivers State Police Command have arrested six suspected criminals allegedly involved in separate criminal activities, ranging from armed robbery and car theft.

The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement, yesterday, said a revolver pistol and two vehicles were recovered from the suspects.

The suspects include 24-year-old Saviour Gbarale and  18-year-old Onyedikachi Uhala of No 12 Etche Street Borikiri, Port Harcourt City Local Council of the state.

Iringe-Koko explained that the duo specialised in housebreaking and have been linked to a series of recent armed robberies in the Port Harcourt metropolis and environs.

He added that investigations also revealed that the suspects also raped and sexually abused a pregnant woman in the cause of their nefarious operations.

According to her, Operatives of the C4i Intelligence Unit, on July 24, while on routine anti-crime patrol along Eleme road junction, ran into a gang of armed robbers. The Police operatives engaged them in a gun duel.

She said: “They were subdued by the Police’s superior firepower. One Victor Okona, ‘m’, 23 and Onuoha John Odinaka aka Precious ‘male’, 22, of Farm road, Eleme junction were arrested, while others escaped with injuries.

“One American Revolver pistol with breech no. 134581 and one motorbikes marked BGM 74VL were recovered from the suspects, effort being intensified to arrest others at large.

“Also, operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Command, while on normal patrol at  Teke Sogo in Tai Local Council, sighted an Ash-coloured Honda Odyssey bus without a registration number plate with six occupants.

”On sighting the police, the motorist zoomed off at high speed and the police team gave them a hot chase to ascertain who they were and why they were fleeing. The occupants, after a long drive, abandoned the vehicle and ran into a nearby bush at Teke Sogo Tai Local Council of the state.

“The abandoned Honda Odyssey bus was recovered and towed to the station. A search in the car led to the discovery of four PVCs, bags of substance suspected to be cannabis, one jack knife, one plier, machetes, and face masks among others inside the abandoned vehicle. The Command has commenced full investigations towards identifying and apprehending the occupants of the vehicle.

“In the same vein, following recent complaints of car snatching at Sani Abacha Division, police investigations led to the arrest of three members of a car snatching syndicate in the state. The suspects: Gladstone Anderson. ‘m’,  22,  Emmanuel Hezekiah ‘m’,  26 and Chika Obiorah, ‘m’, 29 were arrested along Amechi drive in Obio/Akpor Local Council.

“On interrogation, the suspects are found to be members of a notorious syndicate that specialises in snatching cars from innocent victims, particularly bolt/Uber drivers in and around the Sani Abacha/Casablanca area. They use a jack knife to threaten the victims and rope to strangle their victims in cases of any resistance.

“One Toyota Corolla saloon car marked: AAH 382 RM, ash colour was recovered from them. Effort is being intensified to arrest other members of the gang. All the suspects would be charged to court on completion of investigations.”

MEANWHILE, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka, has assured the commitment of the Police to the safety and security of all law-abiding residents in the state.

He reiterated that there should be no hiding place for criminals in the state, assuring that the momentum in the fight against crimes, criminality and other vices would be sustained for a safer Rivers State.