The Rivers State Police Command has paraded 20 suspects, including eight cultists, three kidnappers, four armed robbers who have been terrorizing some parts of the state.
The command also displayed ten recovered cows, fifty-five live ammunition, eighty-two cartridges, three pump action guns, five magazine, fourteen locally made pistol, two AK47 riffles, fake hundred dollars note, three vehicles and some chemical substances.
Briefing newsmen at the Police Headquarters in Port Harcourt, the commissioner of police, Usman Belele said police officers of the Eagle Crack Squad stormed an uncompleted building in Eleme to rescue a kidnapped victim.
Men of the Anti Kidnapping Unit led by David Shadare had trailed the suspected kidnappers to their camp in Igbo Etche where the victim was rescued.
CP Belel also disclosed that the command foiled three armed robbery incidents, as men of Special Anti-Robbery Squad acting on information traced a syndicate of cattle rustlers to Eagle Island where they recovered ten live cows.
“As a command, we have rejigged our strategy and repositioned our personnel for optimum productivity. Rivers State shall no longer be conducive for Criminals, hence we remain irrevocably committed to sustaining the onslaught against all criminal elements in the State.
“On 3/06/2019 at about 2200hrs, one Emmanuel Ezebuemie “M” of Eligbolo Town, Rumuokoro in Obio/AKpor L.G.A was kidnapped from his shop by four armed Men and taken to an uncompleted building in Eleme, where he was kept.
“In the course of Investigation, the kidnappers who had earlier called for ransom, were negotiating with Police Officers of the Eagle Crack Squad, where they were tracked and arrested one Abiodun Yahaya “M” 27 yrs and rescued the victim from where he was kept.
“His confession led the team to Ebubu-Eleme where two others were arrested. They are namely: Wasiu Ojo “M” 24yrs and Ayomide Abiodun “M” 33yrs.
“On 3/6/19 at about 1030Hrs, Operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit and Men of the Old GRA Police Station in a joint operation stormed a criminal hideout at Ahiamakara in Ogbunabali Town, Port Harcourt, in an uncompleted school building, arrested one Henry Gbosi “M” a notorious cultist/armed robber and a member of Iceland secret cult whose gang is responsible for all the criminal activities in and around Ogbunabali Town, including snatching handsets from people at gun point.
“On 3/6/19, at about 1800Hrs, three Armed Robbers operating in a Volkswagen Golf Car attempted to rob a man at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology Junction (RUST).
“Responding to the distress, personnel of the Nkpolu Division, swiftly moved in and in the process, arrested two (2) suspects namely: Timothy Samuel “M” 28yrs from Imo State but resides at No. 106 Emenike Street and Kelvin David “M” 24 yrs from Akwa Ibom but resides at No: 100 Echue Street all in Mile II Diobu, Port Harcourt.
“On 3/6/19 at about 0930Hrs, acting on credible information, the Akpajo Anti-Crime Patrol Team in a covert operation stormed the Sand-field, where they were engaged in a gun battle by the hoodlums. In the process, Promise Okparaji alias Antelope, a strong member of Dey-gbam was fatally wounded, while others took to their heels,” he said.