By Augustine Ehikioya
Based on several operations in Delta State since beginning of March, Police officials in various parts of the State have arrested armed robbery and kidnapping suspects.
One of the suspects, during gun fire exchange, was injured and later died at hospital during treatment.
Many items were recovered from the suspects including stolen vehicle, pistols and ammunition, POS machines and ATM cards.
This was contained in a statement on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, DSP. Bright Edafe, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA).
It said “On the 02/03/2022 at about 1024hrs, acting on intelligence gathered that one Richard Tobi ‘m’ of Obibo, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State who specializes in snatching vehicles was around Warri, operatives of ‘A’ Division Warri were detailed to trail and arrest him with a view to seeing that he is brought to book.
“Consequently, upon technical intelligence led investigation, suspect was trailed to Mammy market, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area where he was arrested and different vehicle plate numbers were instantly recovered from him.
“Upon further investigation, the suspect led Operatives to his base where one Toyota Hilux with Reg. No. UYY 210 GT suspected to have been stolen at Akwa-Ibom was recovered.”
The suspect, the statement said, has been charged to court and remanded in prison custody.
On the 1/03/2022 at about 1100hrs, the statement said “Police patrol team attached to ‘B’ Division, Warri while on routine patrol along Okere market junction, Warri, intercepted a four (4) man armed robbery gang operating with a mini bus with reg. no. Delta DSZ 912 XA.
“On sighting the Police team, the hoodlums shot at the Police and zoomed off. The patrol team chased the hoodlums to Makaiva market while exchanging gun fire with them but seized fire when they got to the market due to the crowd.
“The hoodlums alighted from the vehicle and ran into the crowd but one of the suspects was arrested with gunshot injuries he sustained during the gun duel. The suspect named Christopher (surname unknown) confessed being a member of the armed robbery gang that robbed a POS lady at Osubi-Orerokpe earlier in the day.”
It went on “Suspect was taken to General Hospital, Warri where he died while receiving treatment. The mini bus, one expended cartridge, two (2) POS machines, two female bags containing two Zenith bank ATM cards, one driver’s license bearing Ogagbe Godspower, one (1) power bank and a bible were recovered.”
The police, it said, is on the trail of the fleeing members of the gang.
Speaking on another case on the 1/03/2022, the statement said that at about 1200hrs, operatives of Eagle-Net Special Squad on Aberdeen system of patrol along Asaba-Benin Expressway, intercepted a white colored Toyota Hiace commercial bus with reg. no. AGB 439 XT conveying passengers from Benin to Onitsha.
“The passengers were subjected to search during which one locally made pistol, one (1) expended cartridge, a complete military camouflage uniform, one (1) Samsung S8 mobile phone, some substances suspected to be Indian hemp, one army colored wrist watch, two (2) other wrist watches and clothings were recovered from a male passenger named Billy Saul “M” age 30yrs of no. 12 Ekae Street off Sapele Road, Benin city, a native of Akunza in Lafia LGA of Nasarawa State.
“Investigation is ongoing. Similarly, on 3/3/2022, the DPO Isiokolo led a combined team of Police/vigilante and raided a suspected kidnapper’s den in Kokori, Ethiope East Local Government Area and recovered one locally cut to size gun and six live cartridges,” it said.
Efforts, the statement said, are on to arrest the suspects.