By Ignatius Chukwu
The Police is Rivers State has continued to press its presence and this has forced another cult gang leader to surrender.
Many had expected the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Dr Abonyi Polycarp Emeka, to slow down after what many call ‘initial gara-gara’ but the police command has not slowed down at all.
Some gang leaders have sought amnesty but never got a nod. Some are now on the run. More are surrendering.
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This is after one gang leader surrendered one month ago in heat of police war on violent crimes in the oil-rich state.
Gang leaders had one month ago made discreet requests for amnesty, but the new police commissioner, Abonyi Polycarp Emeka, did not respond.
Few days after, however, one notorious gang leader threw in the towel and was arrested. It is not clear if prosecution has begun.
Now, another cult gang leader has followed suit, handing in his gun. The police commissioner confirmed this Monday, August 21, 2023, in a weekly crime update.
The CP said police operatives mounted incessant raids in Ahoada East last weekend against those they said were terrorizing Ahoada East/West Local Government areas of the state.
In the process, the CP went on, one cult gang leader with underworld name, ‘General Silas’ of Odiereke Ubie Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area, surrendered four guns (two pump action brands, one automatic gun and one manual).
The CP said: “Effort is seriously in motion to clamp down on other cultists for the possible recovery of more arms and ammunition in their unlawful possession”.
The CP who said the fight against crime and criminality was unrelenting since he stepped foot in Rivers State revealed how police team arrived stormed an area known as Rivers Ebuguma and did battle with hoodlums and fled leaving two kidnap victims behind. “The two victims were debriefed and have reunited with their family members, while investigation is ongoing.”
The police said they have also brought calm on East West Road around Ahoada area in the state where the police allegedly arrested two persons (Nwanaka Future Nwokoma and one Gift Eze alias Aru-Ojo), all of the Akala-Olu Community in Ahoada.
The police boss said the two specialized in robbing innocent people along East-West Road and its environs. Guns were allegedly recovered from them.
The police said they are after one alleged gang leader whose operational name was given as ‘General Danger Boy’ or Chief of Embrass Forest and his foot-soldiers.
The police also sent a special squad to Agbonchia/Oyigbo axis of the state last weekend where one kidnapped victim was rescued. “The victim was kidnapped on August 17, 2023, in Rumuaholu, off SARS Road, by four armed men.
“The victim has been debriefed and reunited with his family, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the culprits and recover their operational weapons.”
The police CP also gave an account of a startling operation which led to the forests in Rumuji near Port Harcourt to rescue Lagos passengers heading to Port Harcourt who were waylaid by hoodlums at Rumuji.
The CP said the divisional police officer (DPO) in the area mobilised and went into the Rumuodogo forest and rescued the five passengers who he said have already reunited with their families.
The onslaught against cult gangs and kidnap gangs in the state seems to continue with some gangs throwing in the towel while many others seemed to press on with violent crime.
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Police Operatives of the Commsand, on Thursday August 17, 2023, rescued one victim at Rumuokwachi Ogbogoro Port Harcourt who was kidnapped by four armed men inside a Toyota Corolla with reg. No Rivers RGM 411 EG at the same address.
Upon receiving the information, a patrol team was dispatched to the scene where the kidnappers were given given a hot chase with the assistance of OSPAC vigilante the victim was rescued unhurt.
One suspect was arrested, two of the kidnappers were neutralized during gun duel.
One Toyota Corolla and a locally made pistol were recovered, efforts in top gear to arrest other fleeing suspects.
Investigation ongoing to arrest the fleeing hoodlums and recovered their operational weapons.
The CP said: “Curbing crime in our society is a collective job. I am calling on residents of the state to be open and supportive of security operatives in fighting crime and criminality.”
