Police Arrest 8 Kidnap, Robbery Suspects In Rivers …Kill 3 Suspects, Destroy 30 Kidnap Camps In Abia

President Goodluck Jonathan (left) and Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bangaladesh, during the 7th D-8 Summit in Abuja, yesterday.

The Rivers Police Command has arrested eight suspected kidnappers and armed robbers.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, told newsmen in Port Harcourt, yesterday that the suspects had confessed to the killing of eight policemen between April and June.

“ Between April, May and June this year, they have killed eight policemen in seven different incidents.

“ They have also confessed to the kidnapping and snatching of the car of one young man, Haruna Muntaru, whom they killed after collecting a ransom of N2.4 million.

“ They led us to where the corpse was buried at the Abia end of Imo River,’’ he said.

He said police investigation revealed that the suspects had crashed Muntari’s car into an eatery on Eleme road killing nine people in May.

Abba said the suspects also confessed to killing a youth leader in Elimgbu community in Obio/Akpor Local Government over a misunderstanding on right of way.

He said the gang also confessed to killing one Dr Chindah, a consultant at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, and stealing his new car.

“ We want the public to look at this as big progress.

“ We have been able to put aside for now some of us that are not only vicious, but derive pleasure in killing people, killing policemen and snatching their vehicles,” he added.

Meanwhile, the police said, yesterday in Umuahia that it had destroyed 30 suspected kidnap camps in Ngwa areas of Abia.

  The Spokesman of the Abia command, ASP. Ali Okechukwu said that the camps were destroyed by a special squad, but no one was arrested.

   He said the kidnappers were fleeing from the state because of the ground and aerial patrol by security operatives.

“We will continue to chase them until they are completely wiped out of the state,” he said.

  He said that those offering ransom to kidnappers were actually encouraging the perpetrators of the crime, pointing out that some kidnap cases were arranged.

“We have appealed to people not to give ransom to kidnappers.

“But the families of victims always give the demanded amounts to them before informing the police,” he said.

Okechukwu said that the police had opened 72 information centres in the 17 local government areas of Abia State for the people.

He commended the government for assisting the police by providing them with vehicles and communication gadgets.

He also praised the government for providing fund for the payment of allowance of the special surveillance squad deplored to the state.

In a related development, the Akwa Ibom Police command has rescued the elder brother of the Chairman, Senate Services Committee, Sen. Effiong Bob from suspected kidnappers.

 The victim, Akpan Timothy Akpan, who is a businessman at Eket, was reportedly kidnapped at his village, Ikot Ekwere in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom at 3.30 p.m.

He was bundled into a black Mercedez Benz 190 with registration number AG 649 KET and taken to Mminya Ntak village in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, where the Police following a tip-off got him rescued and three suspected kidnappers killed in exchange of fire. Presenting the victim, the State Police Commissioner, Mr Walter Rugbere, said: “We have diminished the arsenal of the devils, no policeman was killed this time around, the war is on, we are winning the battle.”

“We have recovered 145 rounds of live ammunition, four AK 47 rifles, a Mercedez 190, one Q-link motorcycle, some charms and two masks. Speaking briefly with newsmen, the victim said the kidnappers had demanded N200 million from him.

The Police boss also confirmed the death of one Tony Akpanobong, a brother to the Secretary General of Ibibio Elders Forum, Dr Emmanuel Akpanobong, who is nursing a senatorial ambition. The late Akpanobong was said to have been shot dead by yet to be identified gunmen on Tuesday in Uyo in the afternoon while on his way to pick his brothers’ children from school.

The deceased had been kidnapped in April this year and was released after some ransom was paid. Rugbere, who also paraded five armed robbery suspects including a middle aged woman, said, “I have no tolerance for kidnappers”.