20th May, 2023
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
A notorious leader of kidnap gang in Rivers, Aka Blacky, was shot dead on Friday during a raid on the hideout of his gang at Oyigbo/Igbo-Etche Forest in Etche local government area of Rivers State.
Blacky was killed alongside another suspect identified as Peter Nwafor who was trying to escape during the gun duel with the police.
“The two suspects were taken to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH, where they were confirmed dead on arrival by doctor on duty. Their corpses were deposited at the UPTH Mortuary,” Spokesperson for Rivers Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko said in a statement.
She said the gang was linked to the abduction of a woman and her daughter on 18th March, 2023 along Garrison, Port Harcourt.
The Police spokesperson also revealed that two members of the gang had earlier been arrested.
According to her, the operation was carried by operatives of the Command, Control, Communication, Computation and information Intelligence,C4i, of the based on actionable intelligence.
“The Operatives were acting on actionable intelligence gathered on the kidnapping gang swooped on the gang. Upon sighting the Police team the hoodlums opened fire on them. During the gun duel that lasted for about an hour, the gang leader, who was later identified as Aka Blacky, was shot dead.
“Another suspect identified as Peter Nwafor was shot while trying to escape.
“The gang was linked to the kidnap of a woman and her daughter on 18th March, 2023 along Garrison, Port Harcourt. It would be recalled that two members of the gang had earlier been arrested”.
She added that exhibits recovered at the scene include 1 AK47 Rifle and 18 Live Ammunition.
Meanwhile, the Rivers Police Command has also appealed to the residents of the state to remain supportive, law-abiding, and vigilant.
Residents of the state are advised and promptly report acts of crime and criminality to the nearest Police station or by calling the command’s emergency hotlines on 08032003514 and 08098880134.
ENDS
Photo captions
1)Arms and ammunitions recovered from the two suspects shot dead by Police Operatives.
2) Corpses of members of kidnap/robbery gang after duel.
3) CP Effiong Okon, Commissioner of Police Rivers State Command.