Police arrest 13 kidnappers, 15 robbers in Rivers

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested 13 suspected kidnappers and 15 armed robbers in the state.

It also recovered seven firearms, 46 ammunition, seven stolen vehicles and one dynamite. The command recorded the feat between October 1 and 15.

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Muhammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), two suspected kidnappers, Hassan and Musa (surnames withheld) were arrested on October 10.

They allegedly kidnapped one Emeka Paulinus Ajukwara on August 21, and were arrested with their victim’s vehicle with registration No. YEN 348 CO.

“On interrogation, the suspects confirmed killing and burying their victim. Abbas, another member of the gang, was also picked and the grave of their victim located. A locally-made pistol was recovered from them,” the police spokesman said.

Similarly, three kidnap suspects; Asonye, ThankGod and Raphael were arrested within the period under review, allegedly after collecting N1 million from one Samuel Eke. They were nabbed while picking the money from where it was kept.

Meanwhile, the Police Command had advised members of the public to be aware of the new technique of exhausting victims’ ATM cards used by kidnappers. “Members of the public are hereby advised to exercise caution when moving about with their ATM cards on them unless it is most necessary,” he said.

“The Command equally wants to use this opportunity to regret the abduction of Okey Wali, the immediate past president of the Nigerian Bar Association and to state that the command is working round the clock to ensure his safe rescue. So many measures have been put in place to this effect, which we believe will yield positive result sooner than later,” he stated.

“The Command commended the efforts of Rivers people, who in the past have been volunteering timely and useful information that has been of tremendous benefits to the Command’s operations”.