Rivers
Police Recover 22 Vehicles From Car-snatching Syndicate In Rivers
The Police Command in Rivers State has dismantled a 12-member car-snatching syndicate accused of stealing more than 22 vehicles across the country.
Spokesperson for the Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, told newsmen in Port Harcourt on Friday that the arrests followed an intelligence-driven raid conducted across several states.
Iringe-Koko said the operation commenced in September 2024 after one Mr Enoch Daniel reported that his Toyota Hiace bus had been stolen at Trailer Park, Onne, in Port Harcourt.
She stated that investigations led to the arrest of two suspects, aged 40 and 45 respectively.
The police spokesperson said the two suspects, who were both ex-convicts, confessed that they were hired by somebody to steal the vehicle, using hammers.
“The ex-convicts were each paid N90,000 for carrying out the theft”, she said.
Iringe-Koko explained that further intelligence from the suspects resulted in the arrest of other members of the syndicate in Kano and Akwa Ibom states.
She said in Kano, the police apprehended two suspects who were found in possession of two stolen vehicles, while a dismissed police officer was arrested in Akwa Ibom, with 11 vehicles believed to have been stolen.
The police spokesperson continued that further investigations revealed that the syndicate is coordinated by a suspect, currently at large, whose network spanned Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Borno, Delta, Enugu, Kano and Rivers states.
She said stolen vehicles were smuggled via the suspect’s agent (now in custody) and sold in Cameroon either whole or dismantled for parts.
Iringe-Koko mentioned another 53-year-old suspect and ex-convict and the Port Harcourt liaison for the syndicate, who admitted receiving more than N5 million in payments over eight months.
Others, she said, were two suspects who were both auto-electricians modifying stolen vehicles for export as well as a 45-year-old suspect who was the group’s spiritual leader and broker at Mgbuka-Obosi car scrap market in Onitsha.
She also said that another suspect, an ex-convict, acted as the syndicate’s field operator in Port Harcourt, while yet another was arrested attempting to purchase a stolen Toyota Camry car.
“These arrests underscore our resolve to make Rivers State a hostile environment for criminals to operate freely.
“All 12 suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations,” she stated.
Iringe-Koko said efforts were ongoing to arrest both the ring leader of the syndicate and other identified suspects still at large, urging residents to remain vigilant and provide the police with credible information.
She assured the public of the command’s commitment to the safety and security of the people of the state.
“These operations are part of a broader strategy to dismantle criminal networks and sustain public confidence in law enforcement,” the police spokesperson said.
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As part of activities marking 16 Days of Activism, A Non-Governmental Organizatio (NGO), OLEGH, has organised a one-day awareness creation workshop on digital violence against women and girls, for civil society and media groups in Rivers State.
OLEGH’s Executive Director, Henry Eferebo, said the programme was intended to draw attention to the theme for the 2025 16 Days of Activism tagged, “Unite To End Digital Violence against all Women and Girls.”
Eferebo said the event is an annual global campaign that focuses on violence against women, affords persons and groups all over the world the opportunity to embark on activities aimed at eliminating all forms of women and gender abuse.
“As individuals, we don’t pay attention to the things we see on the social media. We pay less attention to the abuse on the internet. Today, you can abuse a woman or a man physically, emotionally and otherwise, and go scot-free”, he noted.
According to him, women and girls have suffered the most from online violence and cyber-bullying, particularly on platforms such as TikTok, making them ready victims online and offline.
“So, in line with the United Nations principle on 16 Days of Activism and this year’s theme, there is a need for OLEGH Center to create awareness on issues resulting from the online abuse of women and girls.
“We decided to bring in a resource person who will tell us how to avoid being abused online”, he said.
He urged participants at the event to put hands together, rise up and speak against digital violence online.
The NGO’s arrow head, also explained that OLEGH was working towards creating an online help-desk for victims of online abuse and digital violence.
He urged participants to improve their security awareness while online, and adopt security protocols that would protect them in the digital space.
The Resource Person, Jacob Iniodu, in a paper titled, “Understanding Digital Abuse within the 16 Days of Activism”, listed forms of online violence to include, cyber-bullying, dozing, cyber-stalking, and invasion of privacy.
By: King Onunwor
Armslent Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), in Rivers State, has distributed Christmas gifts worth over N5million to aged mothers, orphans and less privileged persons in Belema, Bundu Ama (Community) in Port Harcourt Local Government Area (PHALGA).
The Foundation also gave cash gifts of N150,000 to the Community.
Presenting the gift items, comprising 5 bags of rice,10 Cartons of indomie noodles,10 Gallons of groundnut oil, 3 bags of salt and cartons of maggie cubes, to Chairman of the Community, David Oba, and the community leaders, the founder of Armslent Foundation, Comrade Richard Boma Briggs, said the foundation decided to show love and togetherness to the community by providing the gifts.
He noted that the provision was part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the community aimed at alleviating poverty and create a sense of belonging as Christian faithfuls celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Briggs described Bundu Ama as one of its pillars in partnership, stressing that the foundation was inspired by the spirit of love to impact and rejoice with the residents of the community.
“The foundation was moved by the spirit of Christmas to give these gifts and rejoice with the people of community”, Briggs said.
Accompanied by the Managing Director of the Foundation, Richard Osigbo, and other top Executive Members, Briggs called on the leaders of the community to always pray for the foundation, promising that in 2026, it would embark on a tangible project at UPE Modern Primary School Waterfront, Bundu Ama.
Receiving the items, Chairman of Bundu Ama, David Oba, thanked the foundation for empowering the less privileged persons, assisting physically challenged persons, and aged mothers in the past.
“The foundation had done a lot for this community and today we are witnessing these gift items for the Christmas celebration”,he emphasised.
He called on the leaders of the community, women group, youths and residents to emulate the humanitarian gestures of the foundation and pleaded that they also borrow a leaf from the gesture,in order to also give to society whenever they can.
Earlier the leaders of Belema Bundu Ama, led by Oba, former Chairman, Benneth Kalio, and Secretary, Promise Mangibo, presented an Award of Excellence to the Founder of the Foundation for his Humanitarian and selfless service to the community.
Highlight of the event was the offering of a special prayer to the management of the foundation by aged mothers, youths and leadership of the community.
By: Chinedu Wosu
The Obolo Youth Coalition, Rivers State Chapter, has condemned the recent spate of killings in Andoni Local Government Area, describing the renewed insecurity as alarming and constituting a threat to peace and stability in the area.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Comr. Jonathan J. Eyina, the group expressed deep concern over what it described as brutal and senseless acts of violence, while extending condolences to the families of the victims.
The coalition said the resurgence of insecurity in Andoni has continued to undermine communal harmony and called for urgent steps to halt the trend before it escalates further.
It appealed to youths in the area to shun violence and embrace peace, stressing the need for tolerance, mutual respect and collective responsibility in safeguarding the community.
According to the group, restoring peace in Andoni requires a coordinated approach involving government, security agencies, community leaders and residents to identify and address the root causes of insecurity.
It noted that increased security presence, improved intelligence gathering, and sustained community engagement are critical to preventing further violence, adding that underlying social and economic challenges must also be addressed.
The coalition called on the Andoni Local Government Chairman, Hon. Lucky Promise-Otua, the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara, and the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju Adewole, to take decisive actions to restore security.
It further demanded that those responsible for the killings be apprehended and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
By: King Onunwor
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