Police Confirm Killing Of PDP Scribe In Rivers … Arrest 127 Crime Suspects

Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike (right), receiving a souvenir from the Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), Mr Osagie Okunbor during a courtesy call in Government House, Port Harcourt.

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike has confirmed the killing of the State Secretary of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) (name withheld) who was also the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretary in Ahoada-East Local Government Area of the State at his residence in Port Harcourt, Monday night.
Ezeike said he was called at exactly 3am while the victim was shot at 12.30am while returning from a meeting, adding that investigation was on-going in the matter.
Meanwhile, the state Police Command says it has arrested 127 crime suspects for various offences in the state.
Parading the suspects at a Press briefing at the Command’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday, the State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike said the briefing was to showcase some achievements recorded by his administration within 24 days on assumption of office.
Ezeike stated that on assumption of duty as the 34th Commissioner of Police in the State last month, he realized the enormity of the challenges, key among which, was efficient delivery of satisfactory service to the people of the state.
According to him, the crime wave in the state was troubling with cases of kidnapping and armed robbery, noting that they were fueled by cultism, Homicide cases and communal crises across the state, which were of great concern.
The State Police boss said officers from the state Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) arrested 45 armed robbery suspects, 74 cultists and eight kidnap suspects while 621 ammunition, 49 fire arms and 26 vehicles were recovered during various operations.
The break down also showed that 16 armed robbery suspects were fatally wounded, while seven kidnapped victims were rescued.
Ezike also told journalists that one of the arrests was on 7th July at about 14oohrs, along Rumuobiakani Road, where Policemen intercepted a three-man armed robbery gang operating with a black Highlander Jeep and had robbed a man of over N2 million he had earlier withdrawn from a bank, adding that one of the robbers was arrested while his accomplices escaped with bullet wounds.
He disclosed that their operational vehicle was recovered, and Ak 47 rifles, four loaded magazines with 92 rounds of 9.62 mm ammunition, including 2 extra plate numbers BRR490BZ and KRD09DK as well as the money were recovered.
“Within the past 24 days, the SARS Team has arrested 45 suspected armed robbers, recovered seven AK 47 riffles, one (ISMG, three pump action guns, 20 magazines and over 400 rounds of ammunition, leg cartridges, just as 26 vehicles were also recovered. Some of these are available for your sighting,” he stated.
The Police Commissioner further disclosed that on July 1st, this year, SARS operatives tracked down a five-man armed robbery syndicate and arrested three members of the gang led by a soldier serving at Maiduguri, Borno State, adding that the solider and his two accomplices, Ifanyi Eze and Golden Manuel were arrested  and are already in Police custody.
He said that cultism remains a hydra-headed monster in the society, which according to him, underscored his promise that his administration would focus on “fighting violent crimes with vigour, partner with other security services and non-state actors, respect the rights of the citizens as well as provide qualitative services to the people of the state”.
The CP used the opportunity to express appreciation to the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for his support to the Police, which he said, has assisted the command to effectively perform its duties.