Police
Police in Rivers State have arrested four suspects in connection with the killing of a police officer and a civilian during separate incidents in the state.
The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, ASP Blessing Agabe, disclosed the development to reporters in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
According to Agabe, one of the victims, Inspector Womoma, was killed on August 4 while on duty at a security checkpoint along the East-West Road, near the Elele Alimini Junction in Ikwerre Local Government Area. The suspects were also linked to the murder of Mr. Joseph Onyeka, who was shot dead in Rumuji Community on July 23.
The arrests followed an intelligence-driven operation conducted on October 4 at approximately 4:00 p.m. Operatives from the Violent Crime Response Unit, led by their commander, tracked and confronted the armed robbery and kidnapping syndicate in Rumuekpe Community, Emohua Local Government Area, successfully taking four members into custody.
Preliminary investigations link the gang to various armed robbery and kidnapping operations across the Choba, Elele Alimini, Emohua, and Rumuekpe axis. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to both the murder of Onyeka and the fatal shooting of Inspector Womoma.
Items recovered from the suspects during the operation include:
Two AK-47 rifles
Two pump-action rifles
One English-made double-barrel rifle
One locally made revolver pistol
58 rounds of live ammunition
Agabe noted that police are currently tracking other fleeing members of the gang.
She added that the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Mr. Olugbenga Adepoju, commended the operatives for their brave and professional conduct. He has ordered intensified raids and targeted operations to dismantle remaining criminal networks across the state, while encouraging residents to report suspicious activities, with full assurance of confidentiality.
