Police Parade 35 Robbery Suspects

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested 35 suspects for various criminal activities across the state.

Among those paraded were a three-man gang of fake military officers, Mr. Kingsley Obi from Imo State, Egbuka Nwigbo, Imo State and Godwin Chinwe from Anambra State.

The gang specialised in robbing unsuspecting members of the public with military uniforms, claiming that they were military personnel.

Parading the suspects at the Police officers mess in Port Harcourt during the Police Stakeholders/eminent forum, yesterday the CP, Mobolaji Adesanya said the arrest of the suspects was due to the timely information given to the Police by members of the public.

The Commissioner stated that the Police was efficient and combat – ready to confront crime and criminality in the state.

According to him, 16 suspects were arrested as cultists, 10 kidnappers, three fake military Officers, while five suspects were also arrested for car snatching and bank robbery.

Odesanya used the opportunity to solicit the cooperation of members of the public with timely information, adding that their identity would be protected.

He disclosed that a more regular session of such forum would be created to discuss security issues across neighborhoods, adding that it would be replicated across all Divisional police Headquarters in order to sustain regime of accountability and renewed trust.

He said that the State was strategic to the economic well-being of the country, adding that the Police was saddled with the responsibility of creating enabling environment for lawful business to thrive.

He reiterated his earlier promise that more visible Police presence would be in place across the state to checkmate crime and arrest criminals even as he said efforts were being made to recover illegal arms through a working synergy with other sister agencies in the state.

Also speaking, the representative of the Nigeria Airforce Commander in the state, Flt Commander P.N. Ayayemi said the force was committed to the sustenance of peace in the state.

He called on the people to give information to the security personnel, adding that information gathering was key in crime fighting.

In his speech, the State Director, national Orientation Agency, (NOA), Oliver Woluchem, stated that there was urgent need for the re-orientation of the traditional value systems, adding that moral decadence has become the norm in the society.

He urged everybody to wake up and play their roles in the security of the state, adding that such cannot be left in the hands of the security agencies alone.