The Police Command of rivers state has arrested a large number of criminals in the state and they total more than a hundred. There are about 30 kidnappers,20 cultists, and foiled 10 armed robberies, 6 suspected armed robbers, 5 cultists and 9 kidnappers were fatally wounded. The Command has also rescued 30 kidnapped victims and recovered 20 firearms, 229 assorted ammunition, 15 vehicles recovered, among others.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Francis M. Odesanya said all these in a press briefing that was held at the state headquarters, Port Harcourt on November 4th. Here is the full press release below.

“Gentlemen of the press.

It is with great pleasure that I heartily welcome you to this Press Briefing, to meet and chat with you and possibly share with you some of the modest successes and achievements recorded the command under my watch. As you can agree with me, it has not been easy with the command since my assumption of duty as the Commissioner of Police. On my assumption of duty, I clearly expressed my disposition and resolve to fight crime and criminality to a standstill in the state. By His Grace, I have kept faith with that. Also in my maiden address I charged my men to brace up to the challenges and warned criminals to repent, relocate or face the full weight of the law. And we are not going back on it. I came at a time when the state was bedeviled with all manners of criminal activities like Cultism, Kidnapping, Murder and Armed Robbery. Apparently you can agree with me that these crimes have drastically reduced. We took the war to them and the onslaught has been wonderful. We have raised the bar and we pledge to do more giving the support of all and sundry.

It is on this note, Gentleman that I herehumbly present to you some of the significant breakthroughs we have recorded in the last one month.

They Include.

1. ARREST OF NOTORIOUS KIDNAPPERS/ARMED ROBBERS:

The Command’s Tactical Units and the IGP’s Monitoring Unit arrested the following Persons:
• Chibuike James Okwuonu Amuzuo ‘m’
• Amadi Nathaniel Akokpe ‘m’
• Ezims Aleru ‘m’
• Junior Aleru ‘m’

The suspects confessed to have carried out the operation that led to the death of Barrister Ken Atsuwete a Port Harcourt based human right lawyer who was killed on the 29th day of August, 2016 at Omuchiolu Road Aluu. They also confessed to have carried out the attack at Rumuji Police Station that led to the death of a Police Sergeant. They are helping the Police in Investigation at the IGP’s Monitoring Unit.

Exhibits recovered include:
• 1 AK 47 Rifle
• 124 Live Ammunition
• 4 AK 47 Magazines
• Investigation is on-going

2. DEATH OF NOTORIOUS KIDNAPPER/CULTIST/ MURDERER:

The Leader of the dreaded Icelander cult group popularly known as ‘Shina Rambo’ who led the cult group that killed a Police sergeant, died as a result of the gunshot wounds he sustained during the encounter that led to the death of the sergeant. He was quickly buried in a shallow grave at the Egbema Water front Borikiri, his cult members were arrested.

They are:
• Godday Bright ‘m’
• Loveday Simon ‘m’
• Gift Isreal ‘m’

They are helping the Police in investigation

3. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERS/KIDNAPPERS:

The IGP’s Monitoring Unit led CSP Ben Igweh through credible intelligence arrested the following persons:
• Alex Oburu (General and Leader of the Gang) ‘m’
• Stanley Daniel ‘m’
• Kelvin Ntanta ‘m’
• Goodluck Nwaobakata ‘m’

The suspects are among the six gun men that are terrorizing ONELGA and Ahoada LGA and are the people that kidnapped eighteen passengers of ONELGA links were they burnt the ONELGA office complexes and the bus and took the eighteen passengers hostage. They are also the gang that kidnapped one Ekezie, the driver to the former chairman of ONELGA, Mr. Raymond Wokocha, collected one million and still killed the driver. The body of the driver has been exhumed. They are also the gang that kidnapped fourteen Nest Oil workers. They are also responsible for the kidnap of an accountant one Tabolayefa Ozagu, who was kidnapped along Ahoada Mbaima road. Following a tip off the IGP unit arrested them after receiving the ransom of N840.000.00 which was recovered from them.

4. ARREST OF A NOTORIOUS KIDNAPPER ARMED ROBBER AND MURDERER:

Again acting on intelligence the IGP monitoring unit smashed a gang of notorious kidnappers led one Amadi Nkasiobi alias Italian. The gang is responsible for all the criminal activities around Ubima/Ishiokpo/ Ibaa/Obelle/Ogbodo/Elele/Omerelu and Aluu on storming his camp at Isiokpo they attacked the Police we over powered them and Chika Amadi was arrested and he identified the SKULL of Late Ebubedike Wabali ‘m’ who was a leader of Degbam cult who was brutally killed Amadi Nkasiobi alias Italian.

Items recovered include:
• Late Ebubedike Skull
• Locally Formulated Charms
• Local Drums

5. ARREST OF DREADED KIDNAPPERS/RECOVERY Of ARMS/AMMUNITION:

On 12/10/16 at about 1415 Hrs acting on credible intelligence, one Daniel Gabriel ‘m’ 23yrs who confessed to have carried out 15 kidnapping cases and mentioned all his gang members. In an operation that lasted more than 8 hours, the gang members were arrested.

They are:
• Alaso Igbo ‘m’ 27yrs
• Akeodi Aselemi ‘m’ 34yrs
• Ayibinmotei Livinus ‘m’ 25yrs
• Anikuna Arikunka ‘m’33yrs
• Biobele Elijah ‘m’ 34yrs
• Efiye Anda ‘m’ 34yrs
• Daniel Lessor ‘m’ 33yrs
• Isaac Reuben ‘m’ 27yrs

Exhibits recovered from them include:
• 1 AK47 Rifle with Breach No. 0731
• 4 Magazine and 40 Rounds of live Ammunition
• Face Masks
• Operational Vehicles (Green Mazda car without Reg. No)

6. RECOVERY OF POLICE RIFLES:
In an incident that took place at the Rex Lawson waterfront, where two Police Officers were shot suspected cultists and their Rifles snatched. Operatives of the command recovered the two Rifles, one AK47 Rifle with No. AB 350465 and One Pump Action gun.

7. CULTISM:
The Command’s Anti-Cultism Unit arrested the Following Persons who have confessed to belonging to different cult groups in the state.

They are:
• John Bassey ‘m’
• Gift Ogolo ‘m’
• Ogbonna Okorie ‘m’
• Chigozie Onyike ‘m’
• Samuel Onyeche ‘m’
• Nnanke Eke ‘m’
• Prince Akpoma ‘m’
• Sunday Akueke ‘m’
• Joshua Emmanuel ‘m’
• Barika Kimai ‘m’
• Ifeanyi Eges ‘m’
• Kennedy Nkem ‘m’
• Emeka Godwin ‘m’
• Mene Fineface ‘m’
• Okechukwu Kelly ‘m’
• Okudili Eze ‘m’
• Samuel Danjuma ‘m’
• Chimamkpa Okechukwu ‘m’
• Alimi Ogolo ‘m’
• Goodluck Abuchi ‘m’

They are alleged to belong to different cult groups terrorising the State. They have made useful confessions and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are over.

Items Recovered From Them Include:
• 6 Locally made Single Barrel short gun with 7 live cartridges
• Large quantities of beverages allegedly stolen from a store in Igwuruta
• Toyota Camry with Reg No. FST 813 BP
• One Long Sword
• 1 Short Pistol gun
• 4 phones
• 8 Body guard Spray Tear gas
• 1 Security electric shocker gadget
• 2 heavy duty stun
• 1 Motorola walkie-talkie
• I Branovery Radio
• 1 Security Belt
• 3 Piston guard
• 1 body guard tear gas
• 4 handset Packs
• Revolver Pistol /.9mm live Ammunition

SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
No. of Kidnappers Arrested – 30
No. of Armed Robberies foiled – 10
No. of Suspected Armed Robbers fatally wounded – 6
No. of Suspected Kidnappers Arrested – 25
No. of Suspected Kidnappers fatally wounded – 9
No. of Kidnapped Victims rescued – 30
No. of Suspected Cultists arrested – 20
No. of Suspected Cultists fatally wounded – 5
No. of Firearms recovered – 20
No. of assorted Ammunition recovered – 229
No. of Vehicles recovered – 15
No. of other exhibits recovered – 20
No. of Magazines recovered – 4

In the last words of the CP, this is what he said, in his words…

“Lastly, let me once again thank you for your time and continue to appeal to members of the Public for a sustained partnership with the Police as we fight crime in the state. My doors are open to all. I will gladly receive anybody who comes to share information with me. The command under my watch will continue to be professional and focused in the discharge of our constitutional mandate. We promise to do even better, especially as we approach the yuletide season.”