The Police in Rivers State said its operatives have arrested seven suspected criminals, including a car-snatching syndicate and robbers, in various parts of Port Harcourt and its environs.
It said two of the suspects raped a pregnant woman during one of their operations.
A statement by the Command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, on Monday said notable among the cases was the arrest of two suspects who specialised in breaking into houses.
The suspects identified as Saviour Gbarale, 24, and Onyedikachi Uhala, 18, were apprehended by operatives of the C4i Intelligence Unit of the command on Etche Street in Borikiri, Port Harcourt.
According to her, “The suspects specialise in housebreaking and have been linked to series of recent armed robberies in the Port Harcourt metropolis and its environs.
“Investigations also revealed that the suspects raped and sexually abused a pregnant woman in the cause of their nefarious operations.
Iringe-Koko also disclosed that operatives, while on a 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 duo was subdued by police superior firepower. One Victor Okona, 23, and Onuoha John Odinaka, aka Precious, 22, of Farm Road, Eleme Junction, were arrested, while others escaped with varying degrees of injury,” she stated.
She said one American revolver and a motorbike were recovered from the suspects.
Similarly, she said operatives also smashed a car-snatching syndicate following recent complaints by residents.
The Police spokesperson disclosed that the gang snatched vehicles, particularly cab-hailing services around Port Harcourt, the state capital.
“The suspects, Gladstone Anderson, 22; Emmanuel Hezekiah, 26; and Chika Obiorah, 29; were arrested along Amaechi Drive in the Obio/Akpor LGA.
“On interrogation, the suspects were found to be members of a notorious syndicate that specialises in snatching cars from innocent victims particularly Bolt/Uber drivers in and around Sani Abacha/Casablanca in GRA, Port Harcourt.
“They use jackknives to threaten their victims and rope to strangle their victims in case of any resistance. One Toyota Corolla with number plate, AAH 382 RM, ash colour, was recovered from them,” the statement added.
The statement further disclosed that “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 arsh color Honda Odyssey Bus without registration number plate with six occupants.
“On sighting the Police, the motorist zoomed off at high speed & Police team gave them a hot chase to ascertain who they are and why fleeing. The occupants, after a long drive, abandoned the vehicle and ran into nearby bush at Teke Sogo Tai LGA.
“The abandoned Honda Odyssey bus without Reg/No. was recovered and towed to the station. A search in the car led to the discovery of Four PVCs, bags of substance suspected to be cannabis, one jack knife, one pliar, machetes, face masks among others inside in the abandoned vehicle. The Command has commenced full investigations towards identifying and apprehending the occupants of the vehicle”.
