Insecurity: police dismantle inter-state crime syndicate, arrest 33 suspects

EMMANUEL  NLEWEDUM, Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Police Command says it has, dislodged inter-state crime networks, arresting 33 suspected criminals, recovering 146 rifles, 8,000 ammunition, 8 explosives and 115 vehicles in series of coordinated operations in the state.

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP, Olugbenga Adepoju disclosed this while briefing journalists alongside commanders of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air force and NSCDC in the state, at the Police headquarters in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

The CP who displayed the cache of arms and ammunitions, as well as other recovered items including vehicles, attributed the successes recorded by the police to close synergy with sister security agencies in the state.

He noted that the police intensified crackdown on violent crimes also led to the arrest of the numerous suspects which some were involved in heinous offences such as armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, human trafficking, and murder.

He warned that the security agencies moving forward would leave no stone unturned in bringing crime to a stand still.

He said, “In the past months, the Rivers State Police Command, working in close synergy with the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), DSS, and other critical security stakeholders, has made remarkable progress in our sustained operations to curb criminal activities across the State.

“Through this united effort, we have intensified our crackdown on violent crimes, leading to the arrest of numerous suspects involved in heinous offences such as armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, human trafficking, and murder, as well as the recovery of vital exhibits.”

The CP while giving the break down of the arrests and exhibits recoveries made between January and August, 2025 listed the recovered items to include; “21 AK 47 rifles, 66 Locally made guns, 8,000 Ammunition, 4 Magazines, 8 Revolver Pistols, 115 Vehicles, 34 Pump action, 2 Dane guns, 2 Scorpions Sub-machine Gun, 1 Lar Riffle, 8 Explosives, 10 English-made pistol, 2 GMP, 67 Cartridges and 15 Conventional ammunition.”

According to Adepoju, in one of their notable operations, the police arrested 12 suspects involved in vandalizing an oil-spilled well in Kpean community and recovered three suspected explosives.

The also noted that another significant operation by operatives of the command led to the arrest of seven suspects in connection with the murder of a Port Harcourt based legal practitioner, Barrister Bright Owhor, with recovered items including one MTN SIM card, four locally made pistols, seven rounds of 9mm ammunition, two live cartridges, one mini bus, and one Toyota Camry.

He said the police also dismantled an interstate car snatching syndicate, arresting 11 suspects and recovering 19 stolen vehicles.

“In another operation, a suspect was arrested for piracy and threatening violence at Eresekiri fishing port, Abonnema in Akuku Toru LGA, recovering 1 LAR rifle, 19 rounds of live ammunition, 1 pump-action gun with 1 live cartridge, and one wrap of dynamite,” he said.

The CP however, reiterated the commitment of the State Police Command to ensuring the safety and security of citizens and residents, appealing to the public to partner with security agencies by providing credible information to serve the community better.

He used the medium to assure residents of the state of adequate security during Saturday August 30 local government elections, with deployment of sufficient manpower across the state to guarantee safety during the polls. Anambra Police arrest 5 suspected kidnappers, a deserter soldier.

.Recover 115 stolen vehicles, over .160 assorted guns, other ammunition

PHIL OKOSE, Onitsha

The Anambra State Police Command, in a swift operation arrested five suspected members of a notorious armed robbery and kidnapping syndicate following a report that a victim was abducted on his farmland at Isiagu, Awka, and later released after ransom was paid.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, (SP), disclosed in a press release that, “Acting on credible intelligence, Police Operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu, stormed the hideout of the suspects at Notoko, Awka, which led to the arrest of the following persons: Michael Nwobodo ‘M’ 30 yrs, Eze Friday ‘M’ 29 yrs, Uche Okolo ‘M’ 23 yrs, Chinedu Gilbert ‘M’ 29 yrs and Dominic Oraz ‘M’ 38 yrs (a confessed deserter of the Nigerian Army).

“Exhibits recovered from the suspects include: 6 automatic pump-action guns, 63 rounds of live cartridges, one microscope, 5 machetes, one military cap, 2 police teargas canisters, handcuffs, a robber’s rocket launcher, criminal charms, 3 motorola walkie-talkies, one jack knife, one power bank and cash sum of ₦26,000.00 only”.

He said that during interrogation, one of the suspects, Dominic Oraz, confessed to having deserted the Nigerian Army in November 2024.

Meanwhile, necessary enquiries have commenced with the authority to guide Police action and prosecution of other suspects.

Ikenga added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, had while commending the operatives for their gallantry, urged residents to remain law-abiding and vigilant and to continue to report suspicious activities to the Police for prompt action.

He also assured Ndi Anambra of the Command’s unwavering commitment to combating violent crimes in the state.