Operatives of Rivers State Police Command have raided a hideout and arrested two kingpins after an attack at Odani junction, Elelenwo, in Obio-Akpor Local Council of the state.

They also recovered arms and ammunition.
The raid followed a formal complaint from a victim who was robbed of his valuables by armed men.

Spokesperson for the command, Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the development in a statement, yesterday, said many people had been complaining of armed robbery attacks at the junction.

She said in response, the Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, immediately asked the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to flush out armed robbers from the area.

According to her, the unit carried out stop-and-search operations and placed the area under surveillance.

The statement reads: “The operations of the police team led to the arrest of one Azubuike Orji, 27, a native of Arochukwu in Abia State, who claimed to be a bus conductor. The suspect was released from the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) a few months ago. He was arrested with a locally made pistol and has confessed to working for the leader of the armed robbery syndicate, one Anthony Augustine. He also revealed that his specialty in the gang was peddling drugs and servicing guns.

“In a related investigation, the police tracked a reportedly stolen device to an auxiliary nurse, who turned out to be the wife of the armed robbery gang leader. Further interrogations led to the discovery of a seven-room brothel, located in Odani, Elelenwo, that served as a hideout for members of the syndicate.”

Meanwhile, Disu has celebrated efforts of the men of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and encouraged residents of Rivers State to promptly report crime, to enable the police to apprehend criminals and nip crime in the bud.

He also cautioned the public against buying used items, especially phones, regardless of how cheap they are. The commissioner also counseled young people to desist from seeking wealth through dishonest means, even as he vowed that Rivers State police will not stop efforts to apprehend every suspect on the command’s wanted list.