Two killed as police raid criminals’ hideout in Rivers

The Rivers police command says its operatives have killed two members of a criminal gang during a raid in the Ogbologbo community under Ahoada west LGA of the state.

In a statement on Monday, Grace Iringe-Koko, police spokesperson in Rivers, said a tactical team was deployed to the community to bring an end to the reign of one Ikem ThankGod, a notorious gang leader, popularly known as General 2man.

Iringe-Koko said General 2man was a close ally of now neutralised criminals “2Baba and General Odereke”.

The police spokesperson said the gang leader was involved in the shooting to death of Usang Ude, a police inspector, on April 13, 2023.

She added that ThankGod also murdered four persons — Henry Kirirka, Patience Henry, Abigail Victor, and Chigozie Okpo — on March 5, 2024.

“He also slaughtered one Samuel Philip without provocation. Last month, he buried several persons alive, including Christmas Ede and Agode Gamany,” the statement reads.

“He has carried out a lot of kidnapping activities within and outside the Ahoada West Local Government Area. His catalogue of criminal activities also includes armed robbery and vandalisation of valuable properties. He coordinates the deroofing of public buildings and the selling of the roofing sheets.

“He also constituted himself as an authority that approves social events within the Local Government Area. This has made him attack and disrupt weddings, burials, etc., which he did not approve of.

“During the operation, General 2man and his gang opened fire on the Police tactical team. Though he was able to evade arrest, his second-in-command, ThankGod Uchechi aka, ‘Pastor SP,’ and his third-in-command, ‘Western King’ Okpo Emenike were fatally wounded.

“Several gang members escaped with gunshot injuries, and two loaded AK-47 rifles and eight magazines were recovered from the gang. Concerted efforts are in top gear to bring General 2man and his fleeing gang members to justice and put an end to his reign of terror.”

Iringe-Koko said Tunji Disu, the commissioner of police in Rivers, commended members of the tactical team for their efforts.

“He equally urged members of the public to feed the police with reliable information that could lead to the arrest of the fleeing suspects and other criminal elements in the State,” she said.