Christopher Uche, Yenagoa
Authorities of the Bayelsa state Police Command has arrested a 28 years old Yenabo Presido from Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the State and his accomplice, 22years old ThankGod Victor from Ogoni area of Rivers State along the Sani Abacha way of the Bayelsa State capital.
Also arrested were 49 other persons over alleged involvement in armed robbery and other violent crimes in the state
According to the spokesman of the Police Command, Mr. Astimin Butswat,the Army deserter reportedly confessed that the Assault rifle found in his possession was stolen from a Boko Haram camp in the North Eastern State where he had served. Also found in his possession was a Highlander Jeep stolen from Port Harcourt,Rivers State.
The State Police Command further dismissed as “untrue” the claims by the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) that men of the Police engaged in indiscriminate arrest of innocent people in the State, saying it was their routine raids and stop and search operation that led to the arrest of the criminals.
The Police Spokesman said though the command’s attention has been drawn to the claims that some Policemen in the command engages in illegal arrest and detention of persons through unwholesome practices, the raids are operational strategies deployed to combat crime in the state.
According to the Police,”The Police command has recorded successes in recent past through raiding. For instance, Policemen from Yenagoa Division, on the 31/7/2015 at about 9:45pm, arrested one Godgift Isaac, while conducting intensive raids, along DSP Alamieyesegha road, Yenagoa. The suspect is a member of a six man Armed Robbery gang, who had earlier robbed and shot one Abiodun Dauda, under his forearm and inflicted matchette cuts on his forehead on the 29/7/2015,at about 7pm,along Harbour Road, Yenagoa.”
“The victim, Abiodun Dauda, who was robbed of Thirty five thousand Naira and two handsets, identified the suspect and the suspect admitted to the crime. The suspect identified other members of the gang as; one Hunchback Nodfeh, one ThankGod, surname unknown and upon interrogation, one Owei Prince AKA ‘fela’ and Joel Seibokuro were arrested at a criminal hideout,while one Akpoi is still at large.”
“These feats couldn’t have been easily achieved without raids. As at now the Command has a total number of fifty armed robbery suspects, who were on the wanted list, but were arrested through raiding, six suspected rapist who were on the run, but were later apprehended through raiding. The Command has equally warned Policemen to desist from extorting money from members of the public in the course of discharging their official duties.Members of the public are advised to channel complaints of Police excesses to these dedicated phone numbers: 07034578208; 08032789712.”
