By Tina Amanda
The Rivers State Police Command has neutralized the syndicate responsible for the assassination of Chief Ndidi Livingstone, the former Community Development Council (CDC) Chairman of Mgbuoshimini, who was brutally murdered on January 13, 2024, in front of his church, Peculiar Faith Ministries, Rumueme.
On that fateful day, four armed men stormed the church, dragged Chief Livingstone out, and shot him four times with AK-47 rifles in the presence of his family and church members. A viral video of the attack sparked public outrage.
A special police team was immediately launched on a nationwide manhunt for the perpetrators, leading to the identification and eventual killing of the mastermind, Peter “Daddy” Chukwu, on April 5, 2024, during an attempt to resist arrest in Delta State.
Commissioner of Police Rivers State, CP Olatu nji Disu, disclosed this feat while briefing journalists on the development, at Police Headquarters, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, on September 12, 2024.
During a previous briefing, the Commissioner of Police assured the public that every member of the gang would be apprehended.
“Today, the police have successfully arrested three of the main assassins and six others linked to the criminal network. The suspects include:
“NNAMDI EMMANUEL ALIAS BYC ‘m’ 35 years from Onicha LGA, Ebonyi State. He spent Seven (7) years in Port Harcourt Maximum Prison for burglary and was released in May 2023. Immediately after his release, he ventured into kidnapping in Abia State after which he joined a more sophisticated kidnapping gang operating in Anambra and Rivers State.
He was assigned the role of hostage keeper for the gang, participating in two separate kidnappings but grew dissatisfied with his role and cut from the deals. He provoked an argument over ransom sharing with the gang leader and killed him before pushing the dead body into a nearby river.
“He then stole the two AK-47 rifles belonging to the kidnap gang, escaped to Port Harcourt, and joined an armed robbery gang led by one Ogolo Promise. Ogolo and his gang carried out armed robbery operations that they termed ‘bank tracing’. The operation would have them trail customers who withdrew hard currencies from banks before robbing them. He got about $2000 from the armed robberies they perpetuated. His stock in the underworld grew and he was often contracted to facilitate operations for various criminal groups.
“He crossed paths with and joined Daddy Chukwu from December 2023 to January 2024 to carry out two assassination operations and a hotel bombing. He shot the late Ndidi Livingstone in the foot on the day he was killed. Operatives recovered two AK-47 rifles, 141 rounds of live ammunition, and 8 magazines from him.
“JOHN LUCAS ‘m’ 34 years from Logoro LGA, Bauchi State claimed to be a dismissed Lance Corporal from the Nigeria Army for desertion in 2014. He had been to prison for drug trafficking and since his release, he has been involved in all sorts of crimes.
Daddy Chukwu recruited him in December 2023 to be a henchman with BYC and together they unleashed evil on his rivals. Lucas was seen in the viral video taking the final shot that killed Chief Livingstone.
“John Lucas also operated a gang that specialized in recruiting guns for hire for his criminal activities. He was also involved in highway robbery, successfully diverting 56 Skyrun refrigerators in Akwa Ibom State. Recovered from him are IEDs, numerous Military Uniforms, five Skyrun refrigerators, and the Black Highlander vehicle used on the day Chief Livingstone was murdered.
“ADEBAYO ADEBAYO ‘m’ 48 years from Ado Ekiti LGA, Ekiti State claimed he was dismissed as a Seargent from the Nigeria Army in 2019. John Lucas recruited him to join in the assassination of Chief Livingstone. He was seen in the video wearing a special forces shirt.
After the Police declared a manhunt for him, he became a journeyman moving from one state to another seeking to evade arrest, but this did not deter the Police as he was traced to every state.
“Thinking that he had escaped the reach of the Police, he eventually settled down in Kwale, Delta State where he got employed as a Chief Security Officer (CSO) of a Waste Management Company. He was apprehended while on duty at his new place of work.
“CHIMEZIE ADIELE ‘m’ 29 years from Osisioma LGA, Abia State. He too claimed to be a dismissed Lance Corporal from the Nigerian Army. He was also recruited by John Lucas for the armed robbery operation where 56 Skyrun refrigerators were stolen. His share of the loot was four refrigerators.
“OGOLO PROMISE ‘m’ 25 years from Opobo/Nkoro LGA, Rivers State. He was a member of the deadly De-gbam cult group who rose through the ranks to become the group’s armorer. He innovated the bank tracing operation and became an associate of BYC. Together, they perpetuated three armed robberies before they went their separate ways.
“He also became notorious for renting weapons to other criminal groups, receiving rent for the weapons and a share of the proceeds of any successful operation. Recovered from him were two Assault Rifles and a pistol.
“CHIGEMEZU ANOCHIRIMOYANYA ‘m’ 29 years from Mbaitolu LGA, Imo State. He is a minibus driver who uses his vehicle to perpetuate kidnappings for various gangs.
“SUCCESS OGE ‘m’ 39 years from Umuahia LGA, Abia State. He was arrested for stealing Chigemezu’s vehicle. He has also been involved in various kidnappings and most of his gang members have been arrested.
“IFEANYI NWADIKE ‘m’ 30 years from Emuoha LGA Rivers. He was also remanded in Prison. He was involved in kidnapping/carjacking alongside Chigemezu in January 2024 where they snatched a red Toyota Camry in Oyigbo LGA. After he was arrested, an Assault rifle and 3 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from him.
“SUNDAY GODSPOWER ‘m’ 33 years alias 2baba, from Sii village in Khana LGA of Rivers State. He was a close associate of Peter Chukwu and was also identified as one of the killers of another traditional leader of Mgbuoshimini Chief Minikwu Chukwu, who was killed in broad daylight in 2017.
“During the investigation, four of the suspects, John Lucas ‘m’, Nnamdi Emmanuel, m ‘, Ogolo Promise ‘m’, and Adebayo Adebayo ‘m’ led Operatives to one of their camps at Pipeline, Aluu village for the recovery of their cache of weapons. While approaching the camp, they came under heavy gunfire by hoodlums suspected to be fellow gang members.
“The suspects attempted to escape in the ensuing ambush but were caught in the crossfire. The hoodlums were eventually overpowered, and the suspects rushed to UPTH for medical attention. The Doctor confirmed them dead, and they were deposited in the UPTH morgue for autopsy.
“The suspects will be charged to Court as soon as investigations are concluded.
Total arm and ammunition recovered include.
2 AK-47 rifles
1 Assault rifle
2 SMG rifles
1 Shotgun riffle
10 magazines
150 rounds of live ammunition.
1 Pistol
CP Disu further said efforts are ongoing to arrest more members of Daddy Chukwu’s criminal network and recover additional arms and ammunition.
