In a significant breakthrough, the Rivers State Police Command has successfully apprehended a suspect believed to have escaped from the jail break incident at the Owerri Correctional Centre in Imo State back in April 2021.
The command revealed that the arrested individual hails from Awara community in Ohaji/Egbema local government area of Imo State. However, the identity of the suspect has not been disclosed by the Commissioner of Police, Nwonyi Emeka, during his interaction with journalists at the Police Officers’ Mess in Port Harcourt.
Commissioner Nwonyi affirmed that the command has also made several other notable arrests, including two suspected cultists and two notorious car snatchers. Additionally, a significant cache of arms and ammunition was recovered over the past five days.
The Commissioner of Police stated, “Since assuming office as the 44th Commissioner of Police in the state, I have made a solemn commitment to eradicate all forms of criminal activities and create a safe environment for legitimate businesses.”
Providing further details, he explained, “On June 1, 2023, at approximately 0540 hours, our operatives raided the residence of Prince Aki from Ahoada East LGA, which served as a hideout for a notorious Greenland cult group. The operation resulted in the arrest of one Progress Moses, also known as ‘Bodylink,’ aged 55 years. Among the seized items were a locally made wooden AK47 rifle, a toy pistol, two motorcycles, two machetes, one knife, and sophisticated charms.”
“On June 2, 2023, our operatives apprehended a suspect from Awara, Ohaji LGA of Imo State, in his hideout at Nkpor, Rumulomeni, Port Harcourt, for the murder of two individuals in his community. This individual had been on the Police watch list since he escaped from lawful custody during the jail break at the correctional centre in Owerri in April 2001.”
The Commissioner continued, “Furthermore, on June 2, operatives from the Eneka Division intercepted two male suspects, Ndubuisi Brown (aged 47 years) and Amaechi Kenneth (aged 35 years), during a ‘stop and search’ operation. They were found in possession of firearms in their vehicle’s trunk and failed to provide a satisfactory account of their activities. The seized items also included a Lexus 300 Jeep with registration number Lagos APP 664B2.”
Concluding his update, Commissioner Nwonyi added, “On June 4, 2023, around 17:30 hours, our operatives, acting on a tip-off, raided the hideout of the Greenland cult group terrorizing the Udebu community in Ahoada East LGA and its surrounding areas. During the operation, one cultist was fatally wounded. The recovered exhibits consist of a locally fabricated G3 rifle, eight rounds of live ammunition, a locally made pistol using AK 47 ammunition, a cutlass, and three mobile phones.”
The Commissioner urged parents to closely monitor their children and wards, ensuring they do not succumb to societal pressures that lead them into criminal activities. He commended the collective efforts of the command’s personnel in significantly reducing crime and criminality within the state.
With these recent successes, the Rivers State Police Command continues to demonstrate its commitment to maintaining law and order, protecting the community, and bringing criminals to justice.