Traditional ruler, 30 robbery suspects arrested in Port Harcourt

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Rivers State Police Command has arrested over 30 suspected armed robbers, kidnappers and cultists.  Over 1000 arms and ammunition including 500 cartridges were recovered from the hoodlums.

Commissioner of Police, Dan Bature told Crime Watch Today that the Commander SARS, Promise Wosu (DSP), who led the operation, arrested over 30 bandits  and kidnappers and while recovering arms and ammunition from them.

Mr. Bature commended Wosu and his team on what he described as a good job.

He explained that the SARS men also arrested over 20 suspected armed robbers and cultists and recovered ammunition from their hide-out at Egi community. He noted that the hoodlums had been terrorizing the community and the state.

He explained that the gang was led by a traditional ruler, Obieze (other names withheld) who gave them weapons to kidnap victims and extort money from them.

The ammunition recovered include one pump action guns, one locally made double barrel pistol, one  English-made double barrel gun, two locally-made single barrel guns, two locally made single barrel guns, two machetes, 83 live cartridges, one army camouflage trouser, one Motorola walkie/talkie and some charms.

The suspects, according to  Bature, include the  gang leader, Obieze, Oliver Odum, Ikeguru, Gift Odika, Emenike Ayodele,  Uchechukwu Dimkpa, Colins Georewill, Isaac  Afimaju, Emmanuel Solomon, John Amos, Madiabuchi Amachi Ogbugo, Ogechi Okorobia and  Chisa Peter.

CP Bature  said SARS operatives have also recovered some weapons rounded up another set of five armed robbers at Elele Port Harcourt.  He said they had been terrorizing the community.

He noted that SARS operatives had another encounter with another gang and  with  joint  operation of the patrol  police,   rounded up the seven members.

One of the alleged gang leaders Obieze said “I am the one who  produced arms and ammunition for the youth of Egi  to fight any of their opponents who come across them.

“We are yet to be fully armed for the 2015 general election. We are here to support our candidates . we have used arms and ammunition to attack some  of our opponents. It was in our community that  the SARS policemen came and  rounded us up and we have  surrendered  our arms and ammunition to them,” he stated.