By Florence Uwaeme
Rivers State Police Command says its operatives have arrested a fleeing suspect fingered in the death of Justice Azunda, the Protocol Officer to Emeka Woke, the former Chief of Staff to former Governor Nyesom Wike.
SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the public relations officer of the command, said that “operatives from the C4i Intelligence Unit, while acting on intelligent-led policing and a follow-up in a case of Kidnapping/Murder, arrested one suspect that ran away to Magboro Community in Owode Ibafo of Ogun State.”
Iringe-Koko, who disclosed this while parading suspects on Thursday, said that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to having collected a ransom of Two Million Naira (N2, 000, 000 .00) through a bank transaction from the family of the victim before he was murdered.
She said: “On 4th June 2023, Operatives raided the kidnappers’ camp. During the raid on the Isiodu/Elibrada Forest camp on 20th July, gang members engaged the police operatives in a gun battle. One suspect was fatally wounded, while others escaped with gunshot injuries.
“The fatally wounded suspect was identified as one Chinedu Azunda’ popularly known as Omo, aged 36 yrs, a native of Isiodu Community in Emohua Local Government Area.
“One pump action gun with a bag containing twenty-two rounds of live cartridges was recovered from the scene.
“Investigation is still in progress, as every effort to recover other operational weapons and arrest the fleeing suspects is ongoing.
“In a related development, Operatives of the C4i Intelligence Unit, on 08/7/2023 at about 1600hrs, received a distress call that some group of armed robbers were operating on gun point at Ikwerre Road, in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, and snatched a black Lexus SUV.
“Operatives immediately swung into action and arrested the suspects. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to serial Car snatching in the state. They led Police Operatives to their criminal hideout in Igwuruta Forest. On sighting the Police, the hoodlums opened fire and engaged the Police in a gun duel; due to the superior firepower of the Police, others escaped with bullet wounds, while two suspects who attempted to escape were demobilized and rearrested with bullet wounds and were rushed to the university of port Harcourt Teaching Hospital for treatment. The Doctor on duty confirmed them dead. Corpses were deposited at the morgue for autopsy.
“Exhibit recovered includes one rebranded Beretta Pistol without breach number and one locally fabricated Revolver pistol. Efforts on top gear to arrest other fleeing members of the gang”.
