Vandalised Mast
Operatives of Rivers State Police Command have arrested four suspects for vandalism and armed robbery in the state.
The suspects include the local vigilante commander in Isiokpo in Ikwerre Local Council of the state, Ododo Kingsley Obubochi, and three other executive members of the group.
The command said the arrest was a notable achievement in its fight against criminal activities within the state.
Confirming the development, spokesperson for the command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the vigilante groups executives, namely: Mark Prince, Destiny Onuigbo and Azubuike Orlu, utilised their positions to access the groups armoury, which they subsequently used in perpetrating criminal acts.
Iringe-Koko said the sequence of events leading to their arrest unfolded when a scrap dealer, known as Prince, approached Ododo during a vigilante group members burial.
She explained that Prince, who posed as a businessman from Omagwa, proposed a joint venture involving the dismantling and sale of a mast belonging to Globacom, located on a secluded road in Elele.
The Police spokesperson further explained that following negotiations, Ododo agreed to provide firepower and monitoring during the operation, with Princes team responsible for the masts disassembly and a fee of N500,000 was set for Ododos participation.
She said: The operation commenced as planned, with Ododo and his accomplices providing cover and supervision.
However, their criminal activities were disrupted when they were intercepted by a police patrol unit during the operation. A confrontation ensued, resulting in their arrest. Two of the vandals escaped, while four were arrested.
The items recovered from the arrested individuals, include three automatic pump-action guns, one live cartridge, one plier, one machete, and two Qlink motorcycles without registration numbers.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, has expressed concern over vigilante members involvement in criminal enterprises.
He reiterated the Commands commitment to apprehending all individuals involved in criminal activities, regardless of their affiliations or positions within law enforcement structures.
The ongoing investigation aims to apprehend the remaining fugitive suspects involved in this criminal network.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Why are you flagging this comment?
I disagree with this user
Targeted harassment - posted harassing comments or discussions targeting me, or encouraged others to do so
Spam - posted spam comments or discussions
Inappropriate profile - profile contains inappropriate images or text
Threatening content - posted directly threatening content
Private information - posted someone else''s personally identifiable information
Before flagging, please keep in mind that Disqus does not moderate communities. Your username will be shown to the moderator, so you should only flag this comment for one of the reasons listed above.
We will review and take appropriate action.
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardians leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
Follow Us