Police Kill 35 Robbery Suspects In Rivers

The Rivers State Police Command, says it has within the month of January, 2013, killed 35 armed robbers in the state.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Indabawa disclosed this during the monthly press briefing held at the police officers mess, Moscow Road, yesterday.

The state Police boss, while giving the  breakdown of the score card of the command for the month, said a total of 37 armed robbers and 17 kidnappers were arrested, while two kidnappers were fatally wounded, stressing that 19 out of the 32 armed robbery suspects were wounded by the police in the process of their arrests.

He further disclosed that 129 ammunition, 21 AK47 riffles, and 12 vehicles were also recovered, adding that 13 cultists and three oil pipeline vandals were arrested during the month under review.

According to him, the success recorded in this first month of the year was due to the cooperation given to the men and officers of the force by members of the public and lauded the press for their support to the command during the out-going year.

Indabawa reaffirmed the commitment of the command in ensuring that lives and property were protected across all the communities in the state.

Ha averred that the resolve of his administration was to promote a peaceful environment devoid of robbery and terrorism, and called on members of the public to assist the police with useful information that would assist the police effectively combat crime in the state.

He used the opportunity to thank the state government for its kind assistance to the command, as well as other security agencies  for their collaboration with the police in the bid to ensure that there was no hiding place for criminals in the state.

Responding on behalf of the journalists, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, Mr Opaka Dokubo, lauded the state police boss for the  cordial relationship existing between members of the union and the force in the state.

Mr Dokubo expressed happiness with the performance of the police in  crime fighting in the state, especially the Commander of the SOS, Mr Oni, adding that Mr Oni’s name had become a very big weapon in fighting armed robbers in the state.

The climax of the briefing was the parading of some arrested armed robbers.

Blessing Ahumibe

Rivers State Governor’s representative and Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari (left) chatting with former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, rtd (right) and former Director, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr Udenta Udenta , during the 4th Triennial Delegates Conference of the Trade Union Congress held at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photo: Nwiueh Donatus Ken