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Escapee Ritualist: Police Detain DPO, Inspector …Arrest 23 Suspects In Rivers
In a sustained effort to rid Rivers State of all forms of criminality and crime, the State Police Command has paraded 23 suspects arrested in different locations across the state for various criminal activities.
This is even as the state police command has arrested and detained a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and an Inspector, in connection with the ritual murder of eight-year-old Chikamso Victory in Port Harcourt.
Among the suspects arrested and paraded by the police include one Roland Peter, a member of the notorious kidnapping gang from Edoha in Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state, who allegedly kidnapped and killed Pastor Samuel Okpara on August 15, 2017, and used his liver, intestine as well as other private parts to cook plantain pepper soup.
The state Commissioner of Police, Zaki Mohammed Ahmed disclosed this during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Port Harcourt, last Monday.
Zaki added that the police got tip off that the kidnap gang led by one Justus popularly called High Tension from Abarikpo in Ahoada East Local Government Area was in possession of various riffles and other weapons.
The police commissioner further disclosed that operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), in a convert operation, arrested a four-man gang, who allegedly robbed the manager of an old generation bank of her Toyota Corolla.
He stated that the four suspects had connived with her gateman and two of her drivers to snatch the vehicle, which according to him, had been recovered from Lagos State.
The state police boss while giving a breakdown of the command’s achievements, disclosed that five suspected cultists, seven alleged kidnappers and 13 armed robbery suspects were arrested while 13 kidnap victims were rescued.
The CP insisted that five robbery incidents were also foiled by operatives of the command.
He averred that 25 riffles, including three AK-47 riffles, one locally-made pistol, five Pump Action guns, one single barrel gun, 65 cartridges, 156 live ammunition, four magazines and nine vehicles were also recovered during the recent onslaught against criminality and crime in the state.
He, however, said that the event of 19th August, 2017, in which a suspected ritualist, Ifeanyichukwu Maxwell Dike, a 200-level student of University of Port Harcourt murdered and disremembered one Miss Victory Chikamso Mesu for alleged ritual purposes and also escaped from police custody had left a sour taste and created doubt in the command’s avowed fight against crime and criminality.
“I am totally committed in seeing that the suspect is re-arrested and any person involved, regardless of status in aiding the escape of the suspect, will be arrested, and if found culpable, will be dealt with according to the law.
“Consequently, in pursuit of this resolve, one ex-sergeant Johnbosco Okoroeze, who after thorough investigation was discovered to have carried out a pre-meditated action in aiding the escape of the suspect, has been charged to court.
“The said ex-sergeant was tried in a Police Orderly Room for which evidence tendered during the trial revealed that he unilaterally, in a pre-meditated action, released the suspect to run away before raising false alarm of his escape.
“He was accordingly dismissed from the force and charged to court for accessory after the fact to murder, perverting the course of justice and permitting the escape of a murder suspect”, Zaki stated.
He used the opportunity to call for the end of blame game in the matter while asking interested persons in the case to come with a resolve to help the police in seeing that the suspect was re-arrested and brought to face the full wrath of the law.
The police commissioner said that a handsome reward of N1million has already been pledged by the command, even as he said, a second suspect in the crime had also been arrested.
Similarly, a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Rivers State (names withheld) has been arrested on the orders of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Zaki Mohammed Ahmed, in connection with the escape of the suspected ritualist and rapist, Ifeanyichukwu Maxwell Dike, from police detention.
It would be recalled that Dike was arrested by Okporo Police Station in Port Harcourt while he was trying to dispose of the dismembered body of his eight-year old female relative, Miss Victory Chikamso Mesu, whom he raped and later killed for ritual purposes.
Also, a Police Inspector (names withheld) who led the team of policemen that brought the suspect to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Port Harcourt, where he was handed over to the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), former Sergeant Johnbosco Okoroeze, has also been arrested.
Okoroeze, who has already been dismissed from the police, was last Friday, arraigned and remanded in prison custody by a Chief Magistrate Court for allegedly aiding the escape of Dike.
A source at the SCID headquarters in Port Harcourt told newsmen that the DPO and an Inspector were arrested following revelations that they had prior knowledge of what had happened before the escape of the suspect.
The source said, “The father of the victim was uncomfortable when the police team stopped on the road for the Inspector to answer a call. It was later found out that it was the DPO who called him to expect a call from an IPO, who will be in charge of the case.
“When the Inspector’s phone was checked, there was a call from one Johnbosco, who was the IPO and by the rules of the force, a DPO cannot assign an IPO to a matter that is no longer under him. So, the DPO and Inspector were invited and arrested,” the source added.
Amarachi Anene
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
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