Police Nab Two Apron Vandals At Rivers Port Complex

The Eastern Ports Police Command, Rivers State has confirmed the arrest of two notorious vandals who specialise in cutting the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Wharf steel beams underneath the quay Apron at the Port Terminal, Port Harcourt.
The command, which described the arrest as a breakthrough achievement, said it deployed marine police team to comb the coastal waters before arresting the criminals.
Briefing newsmen at the Command Headquarters, Rivers Port Complex, Commissioner of Police, Eastern Ports, Tami Everlyn Peterside, said the port had lost key Aprons worth’s over N20million to vandals.
Peterside described the key Aprons as the critical components at the port terminal where vessels berth before discharging or loading cargoes.
“If the key Aprons are destroyed by these vandals, it means that the economic activities in the port are damaged.
“These vandals had done so much damage to the key Aprons, they have damaged Berth 7 and Berth 8 Aprons at the BUA terminals in Rivers Port Complex,”, Peterside said.
The commissioner, who described Rivers Port Complex as very important asset to the nation, said the economy of the country was dependent on the port.
“This port is very important for the economy of this country; it is through the port that most exports and imports take place in the Eastern Zone.
“It is also through this port that we generate money to develop the country”.
The CP said the suspects were arrested on November 8, 2021 as the police impounded their wooden boat, spanners, three gas cylinders and particles of iron used in stealing the Aprons in their possession.
The commissioner insisted that the two suspected vandals would be charged to court and prosecuted accordingly to serve as a deterrent to others.
She appealed to communities around the Rivers Port Complex and the citizenry to report any suspected movements and those pretending to be fishing in the guise of cutting the beams to the marine police or the Navy for arrest.
Peterside also called on youths to shun acts of criminalities and embrace positive lifestyles as the law would not spare anyone caught in the act.
The command gave the names of the suspected vandals as Williams Tubotamuno, aged 38 years; and Akpos Ekiye, aged 44 years.
Both male suspects claimed to reside at #125, Okwuzi Street, in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt.