Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested seven notorious criminal suspects terrorizing Port Harcourt and environs on offences bordering on armed robbery and organized crime of vehicles snatching from owners who are mainly BOLT/UBER drivers.
Items recovered from the robbery gang included a revolver pistol, two vehicles, amongst others, during different operations.
Notable among the cases was the arrest of one Saviour Gbarale, 24 years and Onyedikachi Uhala, aged 18 yrs, at No 12 Etche Street in Borikiri area of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area by operatives of C4i Intelligence Unit of the Command.
The suspects specialize in house breaking and have been linked to a series of recent armed robberies in the Port Harcourt metropolis and environs. Investigations also revealed that the suspects also rape and sexually abused a pregnant woman in the cause of their nefarious operations.
Similarly, on July 24th, 2022, Operatives of C4i Intelligence Unit, while on routine anti crime patrol along Eleme road junction, ran into a gang of armed robbers. The Police operatives engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel. The duos were subdued by Police superior fire power.
In the cause of the gun duel, a certain Victor Okona 23 years and Onuoha John Odinaka aka Precious, 22 year old of farm road, Eleme junction were arrested while others escaped with various degrees of injuries.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Grace Iriinge- Koko said one American Revolver pistol with breech no. 134581and one motorbike with Reg/No BGM 74VL were recovered from the suspects, adding that effort was being intensified to arrest others at large.
“In another breakthrough, Operatives of Anti-Cultism Unit of the Command, while on normal patrol at Teke Sogo in Tai Local Government Area , sighted a Honda Odyssey Bus without registration number plate with six occupants. On sighting the Police, the motorist zoomed off at high speed & 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 nearby bush at Teke Sogo Tai,
“The abandoned Honda Odyssey bus without Reg/ No. was recovered and towed to the station. Search in the car led to the discovery of Four PVCs, bags of substance suspected to be cannabis, one jack knife, one plier, machetes, face masks among others in 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 have led to the arrest of three (3) members of a car snatching syndicate in the State. The suspects namely; Gladstone Anderson ‘m’ Age 22yrs, Emmanuel Hezekiah ‘m’ Age 26yrs and Chika Obiorah ‘m’ Age 29 yrs were arrested along Amechi drive in Obio/Akpor LGA.
“On interrogation the suspects are found to be members of a notorious syndicate that specializes in snatching cars from innocent victims particularly bolt/uber drivers around Sani Abacha/ Casablanca area, they use jack knife to threaten the victims and rope to strangled their victims in case of any resistance. One Toyota Corolla saloon car, Reg/No. AAH 382 RM, ash color was recovered from them. Effort is being intensified to arrest other members of the gang”.
The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command, Friday Eboka while assuring of the commitment of the Police to the safety and security of all law abiding residents in the State, reiterated that there shall be no hiding place for criminals in the State. The CP assured that the momentum in the fight against crimes, criminality and other vices would be sustained for a safer Rivers State.
“All the suspects would be charged to court on completion of investigations”, the statement added.
