Police nab five deadly carjackers in Port Harcourt

By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Operatives of the Rivers Police Command have arrested five suspected carjackers who allegedly shot three of their victims dead before going away with their vehicles at D/Line and Diobu axis of Port Harcourt last Tuesday evening.

The Command broke the news through a WhatsApp message to journalists on Saturday, October 14, by its spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko.

However, SP Iringe-Koko did not unveil the identities of the suspects and neither did she give details and circumstances of their arrest.

In her terse statement, she said: “This is to reaffirm that Rivers State is peaceful, and some of the hoodlums who committed the heinous crime, especially in the D/Line and Diobu axis—five of them — were arrested on 12/10/23 while investigations are ongoing.

“CP Nwonyi Polycarp Emeka, psc, LLB, Ph.D, assures that the police will continue to ensure adequate security for the state while respecting the fundamental human rights of the residents.”

Our Correspondent had reported two separate carjackings that left their victims dead on Tuesday night in Port Harcourt.

In the incidents that threw residents of Port Harcourt into panic, one of the victims, identified as Roland Asuru, a businessman billed to celebrate his 53rd birthday on October 20 was shot dead along Wopara Street, Off old Aba road in Rumuibekwe axis of the oil city by the suspected armed carjackers.

He was reportedly shot dead after a mild struggle with suspected carjackers who subsequently made away with his car leaving him in his pool of d.

Several sounds of gunshots aroused concerned residents and neighbours who arrived at the scene and rushed the bleeding Asuru to the Military hospital Port Harcourt where he was confirmed dead.

His body was later deposited at the mortuary.

Also, at Nanka Street, Mile One, Diobu, Port Harcourt and on the same night, an auto-mechanic identified as John Okon, was also shot dead. His female companion in the car however scampered for safety.

She later told the Police that the attackers attempted to rob the late John Okon of his car and while they were struggling to take the car key, she heard gunshots while scampering for safety.

Amatari Bipilade, the Chairman of Diobu Vigilante group identified the victim as John Okon from Akwa-Ibom state.

Bipilade said John Okon was killed inside his Golf 3 red Wagon car in Abakiliki by Nanka Street Mile One Diobu Port Harcourt.

He said the deceased, an auto-mechanic had his workshop at Ojike by Iliabuchi, Diobu, Port Harcourt, but resides at Iwofe, a suburb of Port Harcourt.

“He was with a lady inside his car when he was shot. The spot where he was shot has been a regular spot where he parks with such a lady who was with him. But left the car after the shooting incident”, Bipilade said.

In another development, One Kalada Briggs was also shot dead by a gang of suspected car snatchers who operated within the D/Line axis of Port Harcourt.

It was learnt that Briggs’ car was taken away by his attackers, while the victim who survived the shooting is still in an undisclosed health facility in the state.