Police arrest 14 ‘one chance’ robbery suspects in Rivers

The Rivers police command says its operatives have arrested 14 “one chance” robbery suspects, disguised as tricycle and taxi drivers.

Grace Iringe-Koko, the police spokesperson in Rivers, spoke in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Thursday during a press briefing.

Iringe-Koko said the arrests were made following growing concerns about increasing attacks on commuters.

The spokesperson said that the development prompted Olatunji Disu, the commissioner of police in Rivers, to direct a total crackdown on the syndicate.

“This directive led to the arrest of a four-man gang on April 4, operating mainly at Eliozu and Rumuodara in the Obio/Akpor area. They pose as drivers or commuters of tricycles to rob citizens,” Iringe-Koko said.

“The gang usually operates from 7 p.m. We recovered a tricycle and a kitchen knife from them.

“Serious efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining fleeing gang members and retrieve their weapons.”

Iringe-Koko further said that police officers on patrol at Mummy B Road in Port Harcourt intercepted a tricycle with four occupants, who escaped upon seeing the team.

“Inside the tricycle were two locally made pistols, two live cartridges, one expended cartridge, a dagger, a Bluetooth radio, and tramadol pills,” she said.

The police spokesperson noted that another one-chance criminal gang known for robbing passengers in the state and returning to their base in Aba, Abia state, was also apprehended.

According to her, Emeka Eze, Adaeze Nwamara, and Chika Nwangwa, members of the gang, had previously robbed a woman with a green Totota Carina with registration number AGL 539 BT.

“They diverted her from artillery to the government-reserved area in Port Harcourt, stole her phone, and used it to withdraw money from her bank account,” she said.

“Luck ran out of them on July 6 when they unknowingly attempted to pick up the same woman they had robbed earlier while she waited for a taxi at Rukpokwu.

“The woman raised an alarm upon recognising them, leading passersby to apprehend and alert the police.

“Additionally, on July 8, operatives intercepted a black Mazda vehicle with three occupants during a stop and search operation.

“One of the occupants, Solomon Gabriel, exited the vehicle, and the car immediately sped off with the other occupants.”

She told journalists that Gabriel later confessed that they were part of a ‘one-chance’ syndicate operating in Port Harcourt and surrounding areas.

She said efforts are on to arrest the fleeing gang members.

Iringe-Koko reiterated the command’s commitment to tracking down unrepentant criminals in the state.