7th November, 2014
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
The Rivers State Police Command, has given details of how anti-robbery squad yesterday, foiled an attempt to rob the Eco bank branch by Agip Junction, Ikwerre road in Port Harcourt and recovered N15.6 million from the bandits.
The command also said it had arrested five suspected kidnappers, including a couple and female undergraduate.
The Police Public Relations Officers, Ahmad Muhammad, who briefed journalists, while parading the suspects at the Command’s Headquarters, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, said officers and men of the command were able to burst the criminal gang following orders from its Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers and Commissioner of Police, Mr. Dan Bature to make Rivers state unbearable for criminals.
Giving details of robbery incident the PPRO said the bank robbers attacked the new generation bank in the state capital, at about 3:15 p.m. and the team of policemen promptly responded to the distress call from the bank.
“Teams of police from all direction besieged, engaged and subdued the armed robbers. Two of them were fatally wounded while others escaped with wounds.
“Money to the tune of N15,635,500, one AK 47 rifle, one Berretta pistol, two toy guns and their operation vehicle, saloon Golf car, were recovered”, the PPRO explained.
Muhammad also revealed that one Godwin Samuel, Douglas Nweke, David Dakoro, Ezinne Douglas and Miss Emmanuella Olusegun, were nabbed in connection with the abduction of one Daniel Opiyo, on October 28, 2014, in the state.
The PPRO said the David Opiyo was lured through Facebook by a friend, who is a student of Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) Port Harcourt.
He said the suspects had confessed to the crime, adding that, they received N2 million as ransom. At time of arrest, the sum of N300,000 and a locally-made pistol were recovered from them.
Elsewhere, two men suspected to be involved in the recent crisis in Ibaa community, Emohua Local Government Area of the state were paraded by the command.
The PPRO also revealed that the suspects were nabbed when policemen stormed their hideout at the Ibaa community and recovered two AK 47 rifles, seven dynamites,seven magazines, a locally-made pistol, one axe.