Rivers Police arrests suspected kidnappers, recover guns

Operatives of the C4i Intelligence Unit of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested three in connection to kidnapping and armed robbery.

A statement signed by the Spokesperson for the Command SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said that the operatives, in the course of investigating a case of kidnapping and armed robbery reported on January 15, 2023, had on Friday 12/5/23 travelled to the Kano State and successfully effected the arrest of one Abdullahi Ibrahim, a male.

Iringe-Koko explained that the team recovered a Black 2010 Toyota Matrix with Reg. No. SPR 283 TA, and a Blue 2008 Toyota Camry with Reg. No. ABC 49 AT, both believed to have been snatched or stolen from Port Harcourt.

According to the statement, “Consequent upon the arrest, the Police Operatives successfully trailed and arrested his co-conspirators, one Tamunor Kubie Okari ‘M,’ aged 23, from Okrika in Rivers State; Vincent Kobani ‘M,’ aged 20, from Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State; and one Monima George ‘M,’ aged 22, from Buguma in Asari Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State. Three locally made pistols and two live cartridges were recovered from Vincent Kobani upon his arrest at Victoria Street, Port Harcourt.”

The Police spokesperson disclosed that the suspects confessed to the crime and as well, described how they forcefully snatched the said Toyota Matrix from one of their victims and thereafter withdrew the sum of N209,000 using his GT Bank ATM card.

Similarly, she said sequel to an earlier arrest of a suspected kidnapper who kidnapped his victim and her daughter (names withheld) on Saturday, April 15, 2023, Operatives of the C4i Intelligence Unit raided an apartment on Plot 34 Lonpry Street, Trans Amadi. In the process, one AK47 rifle with Breach No. 0637, three magazines loaded with thirty rounds of live ammunition each, two long single-barreled guns, and one live cartridge were recovered.

According to her, following an earlier arrest of a member of an armed robbery/car snatching syndicate, on Monday, 8th May 2023, Police operatives proceeded on investigation activities to Abuja, Nasarawa, and Gombe States, where they nabbed five suspects, strongly believed to be responsible for theft of cars in the state, and the sale of those stolen vehicles.

She said, “They include one Shehu Shagari ‘M,’ aged 33 from Kaduna South, Kaduna State who is a major receiver of stolen vehicles from one Hamisu Babangida ‘M’ who is based in Port Harcourt, and a direct receiver from one Tamuno Kobiye ‘M,’ aka Okorobo, a suspected armed robber who is a native of Okrika and who has been convicted and imprisoned severally on similar offences; one Ibrahim Abubakar ‘M,’ aged 37, of Kala LGA in Bornu State who confessed that he bought one Prado Jeep from Shehu Shagari at the rate of N5m and re-sold the same to one Alhaji Abdullahi ‘M’ a Cameroonian.”

Iringe-Koko added that the same operation led to the arrest of one Nuhu Ahmed ‘M,’ aged 30, and Abdullahi ‘M,’ aged 30, both from Yola South LGA of Adamawa State.

She, however, disclosed that exhibits recovered include a cash sum of Two Million Naira which was sent for the purchase of a stolen Toyota Corolla; one Acura Jeep with Reg. No. PBT 10 JP is registered in the name of Mrs. Rebecca Mioko ‘F,” a resident of Rivers State.

She further said all the suspects will be charged in court at the conclusion of investigations.

Meanwhile, Police imagemaker enjoined residents of the state to remain supportive, law-abiding, and vigilant and promptly report acts of crime and criminality to the nearest police station.