Police in Rivers State say they have arrested a total of 23 suspected armed robbers and cultists for their involvement in crimes and other related activities in various communities across the state.
The command explained that the arrested criminals included cultists, armed robbers, and kidnappers, who have been terrorizing the state and its environment in recent times.
Mustapha Dandaura, the state’s commissioner of police stated this at the police headquarters in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday while briefing journalists on the achievements recorded by the command in its efforts to combat crime in the society.
Dandaura while unveiling the command’s scorecard, said the command within the period under review, arrested six suspected cultists, seven Kidnapers, 10 armed robbers and foiled three robbery incidents.
He said the command also recovered 64 arms, one machine gun, one G3 purpose gun, 80 cartridges, 20 magazines as well as 648 ammunitions.
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According to him, the command, in a joint operation, executed by tactical units in the command acting on credible intelligence stormed a forest in Obibi, Etche Local Government Area in the wake of attacks and kidnapping, and arrested some hoodlums and rescued victims held captive by the hoodlums, adding that three AK-47 rifles, one Pump Action gun, Barreta pistols, six magazines, and one cut-to-size gun were recovered during the operation.
The police commissioner also disclosed that operatives of the Operation Sting in a combined operation with other sister agencies, which lasted two weeks, stormed camps belonging to hoodlums in two local government areas of Khana and Gokana, adding that 20 camps were destroyed while four AK-47 rifles, four Pump Action guns, one Barreta pistol, one locally-made pistol, seven magazines, 60 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, one wooden carved rubber gun, sirens, charms, and two toy guns were recovered.
He said the achievements were made possible through the robust support from the state government, adding that the state government through the launch of Operation Sting, donated 85 patrol vans, including armored personnel carriers (APCs) and bulletproof vans, which he said, has aided the command in fighting crime in the state.
“The state government through the launch of Operation Sting, gave us 87 patrol vans, two bulletproof patrol vans, and armored carrier vehicles, bringing the total to 89 vehicles given to us by the state government. Let me thank the governor for his support of the command.
“Today, again, let me renew my earlier pledge to tackle criminality, having been motivated by the government. We shall not relent in our efforts to rid the state of criminality”.
Dandaura, however, thanked members of the public for their support through timely information and promised to sustain the existing peace in the state even as he appealed for continued support and cooperation from members of the public.
He said investigations are still ongoing on the murder of late Chima Ikwunado, adding that he would address the people of the state on the matter at the conclusion of investigations.
He said the command will not protect or cover any body found culpable in the matter and solicited for public patience to enable the command secure justice for all involved.
