The Rivers State Police Command has made significant strides in combating crime, with recent operations yielding impressive results.
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, in a press briefing on Thursday at the command, noted that between January and August 2025, the command recovered a substantial cache of arms and ammunition, including 21 AK-47 rifles, 66 locally made guns, and 8,000 rounds of ammunition.
The CP, who displayed the recoveries at the command, also noted that 115 vehicles were recovered, including 19 stolen vehicles from a car snatching syndicate.
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.”
According to Adepoju, in one of their notable operations, the police arrested 12 suspects involved in vandalising an oil-spilled well in Kpean community, stating that the suspects were found with 3 GXI Dynatrac con and three suspected explosives.
Also, the Commissioner of Police led another significant operation that resulted in the arrest of seven suspects in connection with the murder of Barrister Bright Owhor, with recovered items including one MTN SIM card, four locally made pistols, seven rounds of 9mm ammunition, two live cartridges, one minibus, and one Toyota Camry.
He said the police also dismantled an interstate car snatching syndicate, arresting 11 suspects and recovering 19 stolen vehicles.
Furthermore, he said two notorious cultists were arrested with one AK-47 rifle, two magazines with 10 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
In another operation, a suspect was apprehended for sea piracy and threatening violence at Eresekiri fishing port, Abonnema, with items recovered, including one LAR rifle, 19 rounds of live ammunition, a pump-action gun with one live cartridge, and a wrap of dynamite.
However, Adepoju reiterated that the Rivers State Police Command remains committed 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.
With the upcoming local government elections, the authorities have assured residents of sufficient security, deploying enough personnel throughout the state to ensure safety during the polls.
