The Rivers sate Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu on Monday paraded wanted leaders of Deygbam and Iceland Cult groups in Ogoni axis of Rivers State.
Parading the Suspects at the police headquarters, CP Disu said after weeks of intense surveillance, on 15th November, in separate crack operations, men of the Anti-Cultism Unit arrested Baridapdo Igia, 33years old and Elvis Gordon, 26years old, two suspected Armed robbers and kidnappers in Kereken-Boue community of Khana Local Government Area.
CP Disu exlaind that after series of interrogations, the duo confessed to being leaders of Iceland and Degbam cult groups in Khana Local Government Area, respectively and have been terrorizing Khana Local Government Area for the past three years.
Full text of the briefing-
1. ARREST OF SUSPECTS OF ARMED ROBBERY, KIDNAPPING AND MURDER:
On the day of resumption, I had before me a security deficit in many areas of Rivers State. One of those areas was Khana Local Government, and we immediately deployed tactical units to quell the situation. Gentlemen of the press, after concluding intense surveillance on 15th November, in separate crack operations, men of the Anti-Cultism Unit arrested Baridapdo Igia, 33yrs ‘m’ and Elvis Gordon, 26yrs ‘m’, two suspected Armed robbers and kidnappers in Kereken-Boue community of Khana Local Government Area.
After a series of interrogations, the duo confessed to being leaders of Iceland and Degbam cult groups in Khana Local Government Area, respectively and have been terrorizing Khana Local Government Area for the past three years. These cult groups have been known to have endless clashes in the community. During interrogations, they also admitted to kidnapping and burying alive one Praise Daakian, a former CDC Chairman in Khana Local Government Area. They murdered the victim after collecting the sum of NGN200,000 as part of payment for his ransom from the victim’s wife.
The duo also confessed to murdering nine other victims from 2021 to 2023 and were the main reason for the partial evacuation of the community within this same period.
Investigations are still ongoing to uncover the full scale of the suspects’ operations.
2. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECT AND RECOVERY OF AMMUNITION: Operatives of the Command, on 16th November 2023 at about 0132hrs, while on stop and search at Borikiri, Port Harcourt, intercepted one Boma Loveday aged 30yrs ‘m’ of Okirika Town in Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He resisted being searched, but the officers on duty insisted as they were responding to a tip-off. Upon conducting a search, there was found in his possession a bag containing one AK47 Magazine loaded with thirty (30) rounds of 7.62 x 39mm live ammunition and some substances suspected to be hard drugs popularly called Ice or Mpurumiri.
The suspect and exhibits are in Police custody as an investigation continues.
3. ARREST OF SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBERS AND RECOVERY OF ARMS:
Acting on my directives and credible information, operatives of the Command attached to C4i Intelligence, on 15th November 2023, at about 1000hrs, arrested one Emmanuel Essien, aged 31yrs ‘m’ and Marshal Ime ‘m’ aged 22, both from Etim-Ekpo, Akwa-Ibom State and resident, at No. 148 Victoria Street, Port Harcourt.
Upon investigation/questioning, they confessed to being members of a four-man Armed Robbery syndicate responsible for terrorizing parts of Port Harcourt in recent times. One of the suspects, Essien Emmanuel, disclosed to the Operatives that he had been arrested, charged to court and imprisoned three times for sundry offences. He had also been shot in the shoulder in a previous robbery operation at Trans-Amadi, a bullet wound he still bears.
They further revealed that they snatch vehicles and sell them off to one Alhaji and several other buyers. The proceed of the last sale, which was a Lexus RX 300, fetched them 800,000 Naira, paid in two instalments.
Items recovered from the suspects include two locally made Pistols with four live cartridges, a green-coloured Sienna with Reg. No. Lagos GGE 349 BE.
The investigation continues as the apprehended suspects and exhibits are in police custody whilst efforts are being intensified to arrest fleeing members of the gang and recover more weapons and cars.
4. ARREST OF SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBERS AND RECOVERY OF ARMS AND OPERATIONAL TRICYCLE:
Operatives of the Command attached to Mini-Okoro Area Command, Port Harcourt, on 19th November 2023, at about 2200hrs while on patrol along Danjuma Drive, Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt, intercepted a Tricycle (popularly called Keke) with three occupants named Elsharawy Joseph aged 27yrs ‘m’ of Okujagu town, Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt, ThankGod Achese aged 23yrs ‘m’ of Orumu street, Abuloma town, Port Harcourt and Ibrahim Ishaq aged 25yrs ‘m’ of Okwujagu, Port Harcourt, suspected to be cultists and armed robbers.
Upon a thorough search, one locally made Pistol and a dagger were recovered, alongside the tricycle which is suspected to be stolen.
The suspects confessed to the crime of robbery using the ‘one chance’ model and have successfully robbed and stolen phones and valuables from unsuspecting victims.
They use their tricycle (Keke) along Odili Road and Abuloma areas to search for passengers to rob and push the passengers out after forcibly taking their valuables. They owned up to using a dagger and a locally made pistol to scare their victims. They obtained the pistol from one Nkpogeto, who is still at large.
They were arrested at Sasun Roundabout, Odili Road, by officers who had responded to a distress call. The officers rounded them up just as they were returning from attempting to sell a phone stolen from their last victim.
Suspects and exhibits are in Police custody for investigation while other members and accomplices of the gang. Effort is ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.
5. RECOVERY OF SUSPECTED STOLEN VEHICLE/AK 47 RIFLE/3 MAGAZINES AND 47 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION:
In response to a string of complaints to my office of multiple phone thefts and robberies within the Rumuepirikom and Iwofe axis, I directed a special operation to be led by the tactical unit, Operation Sting, attached to the Rumuepirikom Divisional Headquarters and on Friday, November 24 at about 2045hrs while on a routine Stop and Search by Rumuola fly-over flagged down a custom colour Toyota Corolla car, with Reg. No KWL 530 GO. Upon sighting the officers, the occupants immediately jumped out of the vehicle and took to their heels, abandoning it.
The team searched the vehicle and recovered one AK47 rifle, breech No. 1968-74597, with three magazines and 47 7.63 x9mm live ammunition.
The team further conducted an intensive search of the area for a possible arrest of the fleeing hoodlums.
Meanwhile, the area has been under surveillance while the exhibits are in Police custody.
CLOSING
I appreciate every one of you, esteemed men and women of the fourth estate. Your role is critical in our fight against crime and criminality in Rivers State, and I salute your willingness to be part of our move to rid the state of all forms of crime. Let me also charge you to use your reporting channels to promote good conduct and dissuade lawbreakers.
Combating crime and criminality in our society is a collective responsibility. I hereby call on all good residents of Rivers State to support the Security Operatives by providing credible and timely information to enable us to do more exploits.
I assure all law-abiding residents of Rivers State that we will do our utmost best to keep Rivers State safe.
I sincerely thank you all.