The Rivers State Police Command says it has apprehended 35 suspected armed robbers, kidnappers and cultists, in different parts of the state.
According to the Command, arms and ammunition were recovered from the hideouts of the hoodlums, where they also rescued 10 victims from the criminals.
The State Police Commissioner, Friday Eboka, who spoke to newsmen disclosed that operatives of the command have been tackling the hoodlums terrorising residents.
He said, “Police arrested 15 suspected armed robbers who robbed victims within Port Harcourt, Elele, Eleme and Mile 1 axis. They recovered from them some sophisticated arms and ammunition.
“The Anti-Cultism Squad (ACS) rounded up 20 suspected cultists who are into armed robbery and initiation of students into cultism. Some arms were recovered from them. Operatives clamped down on 10 notorious kidnappers in various places in Port-Harcourt.
“We raided hideouts of the hoodlums where we rescued some victims from the kidnappers’ den. We recovered ammunition and charms from them, while some hoodlums abandoned the victims at the dens.
“I have warned my officers not to relent in their efforts. They should be ready to face the challenges of tackling criminals. I have also charged them to imbibe the community policing.”
Eboka added that the suspects would be charged to court at the end of investigations.
On her part, the State Police spokesperson, Grace Iringe Koko, expressed appreciation to the members of the public “for believing in the police and giving us useful information which enabled the policemen to carry out serious fight against the criminals.”