Police Nab Suspected Kidnappers, Armed Robbers Along P/Harcourt-Owerri Expressway
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have apprehended three notorious kidnap suspects for thier involvement in a series of highway robberies and kidnappings along the Port Harcourt-Owerri Expressway.
The Rivers state Commissioner of Police, CP Mustapha Bala, who made the disclosure on Wednesday, at the Command’s headquarters, while briefing journalists on he recent achievements of the command, said the arrest follows intensified crackdown on criminal activities along the route, which has been a hotspot for violent attacks on motorists.
While parading the suspects, CP Bala explained that Blessing Akpelu alias NTA, aged 20, Precious Ebee, aged 30, and 28-year-old Wisdom Amadi, all natives of Egbeda in Emohua LGA are known for orchestrating roadblocks to trap unsuspecting travellers and have been under police surveillance after an alarming spike in kidnappings, including the abduction of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member and two others along the Elele/Omerelu axis of the expressway.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the gang would frequently set up illegal roadblocks at strategic points along the expressway before attacking motorists at gunpoint and taking hostages for ransom.
The first two suspects were arrested on the 17th of October 2024 by men of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Rivers State Police Command while the third suspect, Wisdom Amadi, who was identified as the gang leader was arrested at Egbeda on the 19th of October 2024.
The suspects, whose arrests were made possible after the police traced their whereabouts through intelligence gathered, have confessed to crimes of kidnapping.
The CP said Further investigations are ongoing to arrest their remaining accomplices and retrieve their operational weapons as well as to uncover the full extent of their criminal network.
Similarly, operatives of the Command successfully conducted two coordinated operations in the Elechi Beach and Nanka waterfront areas, targeting criminal hideouts believed to be hubs for illegal activities.
Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the C4i Strike Force (Octopus) launched strategic raids in both locations, leading to the arrest of a notorious armed robber, and the recovery of one vehicle, arms and ammunition.
In the first operation, conducted at approximately 7 pm on the 18th of October 2024, the operatives stormed a hideout in the Elechi Beach axis in Diobu Port Harcourt. Several illegal firearms and rounds of ammunition were seized during the raid.
The items recovered include an English revolver pistol with thirty-five rounds of 8.1mm live ammunition and one Excam Hialeah pistol with two rounds of 9mm live ammunition. Suspects evaded arrest by fleeing into the nearby river.
The second operation took place shortly afterwards at a suspected criminal den in the Nanka waterfront area of Diobu, Port Harcourt where a blue Toyota Corolla with Registration number BDG 44 HE, belonging to one Iviuboosun Usanavi Okuru of no 24 Ada Williams was recovered. The victim was robbed at gunpoint along education bus-stop.
In the same swoop, the police arrested one Baridam Berebom ‘of Mogho in Gokana LGA, who was found in possession of an SMG rifle with which he and his gang robbed a female NYSC corps member of her iPhone 12.
The Police swiftly responded to a distress call about the robbery and gave hot pursuit of the armed robbers. The suspect was arrested while other gang members fled. The victim’s phone and the operational weapon were recovered.
CP Bala affirmed that the state Police command is actively pursuing all available leads to track down other individuals responsible for the illegal activities in these areas, assuring that investigations are ongoing, with confidence that all those behind these criminal networks will be apprehended soon.
He further called on members of the public to provide any information that could assist in the capture of these criminals.
“The recovery of these arms and a stolen vehicle represents a significant step in curbing the illegal possession of firearms in the state and a resolve to ensure that car thieves do not go scot-free.
“We remain committed to maintaining peace and security across all neighbourhoods and will continue to carry out targeted operations to eliminate criminal activities”, he said, .remind everyone that all suspects will be charged to court, “and we will ensure that due process is followed, and justice is served”.
