Operatives of the C4i Intelligence Unit of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested three suspects for kidnapping and armed robbery.
The state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement, yesterday, said police operatives, in the course of investigating a case of kidnapping and armed robbery, reported on January 15, 2023, travelled to Kano State and successfully arrested one Abdullahi Ibrahim, ‘m’, on Friday, May 12, 2023.
Iringe-Koko said in the process, the team recovered a black 2010 Toyota Matrix with Registration Number: SPR 283 TA, and a blue 2008 Toyota Camry with Registration Number: ABC 49 AT, both believed to have been snatched or stolen in Port Harcourt.
She said: “Consequent upon the arrest, police operatives successfully trailed and arrested his co-conspirators, one Tamunor Kubie Okari, ‘m,’ 23, from Okrika in Rivers State, Vincent Kobani, ‘m,’ 20, from Gokana Local Council of Rivers State, and one Monima George, ‘m,’ 22, from Buguma in Asari Toru Local Council of Rivers State.
“Three locally made pistols and two live cartridges were recovered from Vincent Kobani upon his arrest at Victoria Street, Port Harcourt.”
She added that the suspects confessed to the crime, as well as described how they forcefully snatched the said Toyota Matrix from one of their victims and thereafter withdrew the sum of N209, 000, using his Bank Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card.
In a related development, the PPRO said: “Sequel to an earlier arrest of a suspected kidnapper, who abducted his victim and daughter (names withheld) on Saturday, April 15, 2023, operatives of the C4i Intelligence Unit raided an apartment on Plot 34 Lonpry Street, Trans Amadi.
“In the process, one AK47 rifle with Breach No. 0637, three magazines loaded with 30 rounds of live ammunition each, two long single-barrel guns, and one live cartridge were recovered.”
Similarly, Iringe-Koko said following an earlier arrest of a member of an armed robbery/car snatching syndicate, on Monday, May 8, 2023, police operatives proceeded on investigation activities to Abuja, Nasarawa and Gombe states, where they nabbed five suspects, believed to be responsible for cars thefts in the state, and sale of stolen vehicles.
The suspects, she said include: one Shehu Shagari, ‘m,’ 33, from Kaduna South, Kaduna State, who is a major receiver of stolen vehicles from one Hamisu Babangida, ‘m’, who is based in Port Harcourt, and a direct receiver from one Tamuno Kobiye, ‘m,’ aka Okorobo, a suspected armed robber and native of Okrika, convicted and imprisoned severally on similar offences.
Others are one Ibrahim Abubakar, ‘m,’ 37, of Kala Local Council in Borno State, who confessed that he bought one Prado Jeep from Shehu Shagari at the rate of N5 million and re-sold same to one Alhaji Abdullahi, ‘m’, a Cameroonian.
The PPRO added that the same operation led to the arrest of one Nuhu Ahmed, ‘m,’ 30, and Abdullahi, ‘m,’ 30, both from Yola South Local Council of Adamawa State.
She disclosed that exhibits recovered include: a cash sum of N2 million, sent for the purchase of a stolen Toyota Corolla, one Acura Jeep with Registration Number: PBT 10 JP, registered in the name of Mrs. Rebecca Mioko, ‘f,” a resident of Rivers State.
She further said all the suspects will be charged in court at the conclusion of investigations.
Iringe-Koko enjoined residents of the state to remain supportive, law-abiding and vigilant, and promptly report acts of crime and criminality to the nearest police station.
