21st July, 2011
The Edo State Police Command has smashed different robbery gangs and arrested 30 suspected robbers, kidnappers and pipeline vandals.
According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohammed Hurdi, the suspects were arrested at different parts of the state for alleged crime.
Parading the suspects before journalists at the State Police Command headquarters in Benin City yesterday, Mohammed said a robbery suspect, Ehis Joseph Ehigiator was nabbed after a robbery operation at Ekpoma town.
He was arrested with two toy guns, a motorcycle with registration number UJ 240 NSK and handsets he allegedly snatched from his victims.
Another robbery suspect arrested was Joshua Anosike who was said to belong to a gang that terrorised Upper Mission area of Benin City.
Also paraded were members of a gang of fraudsters who posed as men of God to defraud their victims.
They were said to have approached one Miss Edokhin, a sales representative in a company at Akpakpava road, Benin City and presented themselves as clergymen pretending they could help her with prayers.
The conmen reportedly collected a large sum of money from Miss Edokhin before they were nabbed by the police.
The suspected gang members include: Desmond Igbinigie, Pius Akhuemokhan, Saturday Okoduwa, Austin Oviasojie, Orobosa Ogbebor, Iyare Nath, Uwadiale Egbokhan, Lucky Akhigbe and Joel Agboritaen.
The police said the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.
The Edo State Police Command also paraded 10 suspects nabbed for vandalisation of NITEL cable which they allegedly loaded in a truck with registration number XS 578 AKD which contained 22 bags of copper wire.
Meanwhile, Mohammed has assured the public that the police were collaborating with other security agencies to track down the abductors of wife of the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs. Obayuwana.
He said: “Surveillance has been increased around certain quarters and neighbours with a view to unmasking the criminals behind the abduction. We are working in tandem with other security agents and vigilance groups to arrest the culprits.â€
—Yomi Obaditan/ Benin City