PRESS BRIEFING BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE RIVERS STATE, CP USMAN A. BELEL ON THE FORTHCOMING INAUGURATION OF THE GOVERNOR OF RIVERS STATE
Good afternoon Gentlemen of the Press.
I am delighted to have you here today barely a week after we shared the breaking achievements of the Command, where some breathtaking successes were showcased to the admiration of the receiving public.
Today I have called you, essentially to address you on our level of preparedness for the forthcoming Swearing-in Ceremony of the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Chief (Barr) Ezenwo Nyesom Wike (CON) and His Deputy Dr. (Mrs) Ipalibo Banigo Harry, scheduled to hold tomorrow 29th May, 2019.
- As part of the measures to engender a seamless Event, we have drawn up our Operation Order, which captures our deployments for the Event. Let me strongly assure the good people of the State, that the Rivers State Police Command under my watch, will not leave any stone unturned to see that the Swearing-in Ceremony is hitch free, devoid of violence and acrimony. Though, the Event is scheduled to hold in Liberation Stadium, Elekahia Port Harcourt, the State capital, our Security arrangements are so elaborate that every aspect of the State is covered in our deployments. This is however deliberate and only intended to give everybody in the State, a renewed sense of Security, including those that will be viewing the Event from their homes.
- I want to state for the umpteenth time, that the Rivers State Police Command will not tolerate, condole nor welcome any act that will undermine and/or compromise the Security situation in the State before, during and after the Swearing-in Ceremony. Hence, I call on those issuing threats to disrupt and disorganize the Event; to jettison the idea as quickly as possible or be prepared to face the full wrath of the Law, as the Command will not fail to wield the big stick in the circumstance.
- Consequently, the Public is hereby advised to come out enmasse, to grace the Event and/or go about their Lawful activities without fear of intimidation and molestation.
Gentlemen of the Press, please permit me to seize this moment and address you on some sizzling achievements recorded by the Command a couple of days ago, to wit:
SMASHING OF ADVANCE FEE FRAUDSTERS:
Detectives of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, SCIID Port Harcourt, while acting on credible information and with the aid of technical Intelligence, rounded up a four men syndicate of fraudsters, who specializes in bank frauds using the whatsapp platform with No (845) 2884508 in their criminal escapades, where they fraudulently obtained from one Dr. Pius Obi Umeh, a Medical Practitioner who was made to pay the sum of three Million Naira (N3m) into different accounts belonging to them and their cronies, resulting from an online transaction with an international collaborator, one Mary Morgan who claimed to be a Staff of Apple Company, makers of Apple Laptops and iPhones.
They were arrested at different times, have confessed to the crime and will be charged to Court at the conclusion of Investigation.
They are:
Reagan Oscar “M” 16 yrs
Omawami Success “M” 56 yrs
Obruche Profit “M” 15 yrs
Victory Oxner “M” 16 yrs
ARREST OF ILLEGAL ARMS DEALERS:
Operatives of the Eagle Crack Squad, acting on credible information, smashed a gang of arms dealer who were arrested on 16/5/19 at Elele Alimini Barracks Road in Emohua LGA. They were arrested and Eight Hundred and Eighty Nine (889) Live Cartridges concealed in a big sack bag, driven in a Tricycle. They were arrested while going to supply the cartridges to the hoodlums terrorizing the East/West Road.
They are:
Israel Amadi “M” 41 yrs
Michael Okunna “M” 35 yrs
ARREST OF NOTORIOUS KIDNAPPERS AND ARMED ROBBERS:
Operatives of the Eagle Crack Squad, in a sting Operations led by the Commander, SP Jovinus Iwu, during the week under review, arrested the following kidnappers and armed robbers who in recent time, have been terrorizing the State and its environs.
They are:
Nwabueze Daniel “M” 30yrs
Michael Ezera “M” 22yrs
Maduka Okini “M” 25yrs
Aniete Sunday “M” 28yrs
Ifeanyi Nnnaji “M” 19yrs
Emmanuel Ubong “M” 27yrs
Iniobong Emmanuel “M” 20yrs
Mary Daniel “M” 23yrs
Anele Temple “M” 28yrs
Jonathan Samuel “M” 23ys
Patrick Amadi “M” 28yrs
Innocent Ukeme “M” 33yrs
Edet Nwanokwo “M” 28yrs
Aremi Graham ”M” 20yrs
Emi George aka Ejima “M” 35yrs
Christopher Kahi “M” 31yrs
Okechukwu Chinda “M” 28yrs
Osinachi Patrick “M” 20yrs
Anthony Amamdi “M” 22yrs
Chimosi Dike “M” 21yrs
Trans Akire “M” 25yrs
The above named suspects were arrested from different parts of the State and have confessed their involvements in different armed robbery and kidnapping operations in the State.
In the wake of their arrest, the following Exhibits were recovered.
They are:
Three AK47 rifles
Twenty Nine rounds of live ammunition
One locally made pistol
One assault rifle
Six magazines
One locally made single barrel gun
Two military shorts
Two caps having the inscriptions of Marine badge
One FNC rifle
One cut-to-size locally made single barrel gun
One dagger
One black Toyota Camry with Reg No: KTU 415 AC
Red Toyota Camry with Reg No: PHC 308 AJ
Green Toyota Corolla with Reg No; EPE 890 AQ
Kia Rio car with Reg No: EPE 890 AQ
Tow Military shoes
Two Military Caps
Eight hundred and Eighty Nine live Cartridges
The suspects will be charged to court as soon as Investigation is concluded.
ARREST OF A NOTORIOUS KIDNAPPER:
Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit in a raid operation led by the Commander, SP Edward Shadare at the early hours of today 28/5/19, while deploying Technical Intelligence traced one Monday Nnaji “M” aka “eye-dey-red” to his Igbo Etche hideouts, where their gang engaged the Police and in a return fire, he was fatally wounded and one locally made gun and different charms recovered.
The deceased suspect is from Rumuodogo in Emohua LGA and is said to be responsible for the attacks on the East/West Road.
ARREST OF SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBERS AND RECOVERY OF ARMS:
Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), in different sting operations, arrested the following suspected armed robbers. They are:
Kemka Destiny “M” 21yrs
Uche Ibere “M” 23 yrs
Chile Worlu “M” 36yrs
Joseph Tobia “M” 22yrs
Victor Edwin “M” 23yrs
Chisom Daniel “M” 27yrs
Ebika Erujere “M” 27yrs
Chinedu Njoku “M” 22yrs
The above listed armed robbers were arrested from different parts of the State. They have made useful confessions and will be charged to Court as soon as Investigation is over.
Exhibits recovered from them include:
Different GSM phones
One Nissan X-Terra Jeep with Reg No: SKN 383 AE
One Locally made short gun
60 Cartridges
58 Ammunition
3 vehicles
2 Pump action guns
2 English made pistols
13 locally made pistols
ARREST OF NOTORIOUS KIDNAPPERS AND RECOVERY OF ARMS:
On 27/5/19 at about 1830Hrs, Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit led by the Commander, while playing along with the kidnappers of one Cecilia Nnamdi “F” who was kidnapped on 18/3/19. They were traced to Igbo Etche where the following kidnappers were arrested namely:-
Promise Uche ‘M’ 22yrs
Utom Peter ‘M’ 25yrs
Emmanuel Sambo ‘M’ 23yrs
Exhibits recovered from them include:
Two locally made double barrel short guns
One locally made single barrel gun
Six live cartridges
They have made useful confessions and will be charged to court as soon as Investigation is over.
ARREST OF FIVE NOTORIOUS KIDNAPPERS OPERATING IN MILITARY CAMOUFLAGE:
Operatives of the Swift Operation Squad (SOS) while doing a follow up in a case of kidnapping, arrested a five man gang who has been terrorizing the State, operating in Military Camouflage.
They were arrested from Okporo and have made useful confessions.
They are:
Olatunde galiyu “M” (The leader and dismissed Army personnel)
Sampson Isia “M”
Chilw Nwariwu “M”
Chizilum Eze “M”
Ogbonna Michael “M”
Exhibits recovered from them include:
One Locally made double barrel gun
Two expended cartridges
Assorted Military Uniforms
Two Jack knives
One Toyota Camry with Reg No: KRD 148 FP
ARREST OF CULTISTS AND RECOVERY OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION:
Operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Command, led by the Commander, CSP Ahijo Lawson, in different raid operations, arrested the following cultists who have confessed to belonging to different cult groups and responsible for all the cult attacks in the State.
They were arrested at different times and places.
They are:
Martins David “M”
Nwachukwu Nwosu “M”
Ovunda Igwe “M”
Kennedy Chukwunda “M”
Gift Emmanuel “M”
Fubara Marvin “M”
Goodday Tebeda “M”
Chibuzor Francis “M”
Diri Augustine “M”
Obinna Epelle “M”
Marshall Jonah “M”
Exhibits recovered from them include:
One FNC rifle
Two magazines
Thirty one rounds of ammunition
One locally made pistol
Large quantities of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp
SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS
No of suspected cultists arrested – 11
No of suspected Kidnappers arrested – 23
No of suspected Armed Robbers arrested – 10
No of Armed Robbery foiled – 3
No of AK47 recovered – 3
No of locally made pistol recovered – 17
No of Pump Action recovered – 3
No of Magazine recovered – 7
No of Ammunition recovered – 150
No of Cartridges recovered – 949
FNC rifle recovered – 1
Iron Cutter recovered – 5
No of vehicles recovered – 3
Two bags of Weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp
Pieces of Military Uniforms
Total No: suspects – 44
Gentlemen of the Press, let me once again thank you for coming and want to use this medium to further reiterate our avowed commitment to tackling all manner of criminality in the State and re launch the State back to her peaceful and investment friendly environment, which was usually known for. I will continue to seek your cooperation and partnership in this direction.
Finally, let me assure the residents of the State, that the Command is home and dry for the 2nd Term Inauguration Ceremony of the Executive Governor coming up tomorrow, barring all odds.
Thanks.
- USMAN .A. BELEL
Commissioner of Police
Rivers State Police Command
