Police, Vigilance Group Recover Trailer-load of Cement Hijacked by Gunmen in Delta

Arrest seven suspects, rescue one victim in Rivers

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka  and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

 Police operatives attached to Area Command headquarters in Ihiala, Anambra State, who were working in conjunction with operatives of the Anambra State Vigilance  in Okija have recovered a Howo trailer laden with Bua Cement, which was hijacked by gunmen in Delta State.

This is just operatives of the Rivers State Police command have arrested seven suspects in connection to alleged armed robbery, kidnapping, car snatching and cult related activities in the state.

Regarding the recovery of trailer, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Tochukwu Ikenga,  who  disclosed  this  to journalists, gave the registration number of the truck as: Delta AKU 247 XB. He said the truck was conveying 1,000 bags of Bua cement when it was hijacked.

 He said: “Information revealed that the truck was hijacked at gunpoint by unidentified persons last Friday at Obiliokite in Delta State.

“The armed criminals, on sighting the joint patrol comprising of the police and vigilantes on the Onitsha-Owerri expressway, pulled off the road at Okija, abandoned the truck, and fled.

Ikenga quoted the state Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye, as having ordered a manhunt for the gunmen.

He called on locals within the area to help with any useful information that will help in apprehending the fleeing suspects, assuring them that any information given in this regard shall be treated with the confidentiality it deserves.

The PPRO also encouraged members of the public who have useful information on criminals and their activities to always report to the police for action.

Ikenga said the recovered consignment has also been released to the rightful owner on the instruction of Adeoye.

Meanwhile, operatives of the Rivers State Police command have arrested seven suspects in connection to alleged armed robbery, kidnapping, car snatching and cult related activities in the state.

Parading the suspects yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state Commissioner of Police(CP), Emeka Nwonyi said the suspects were arrested from different parts of the state.

Nwonyi also revealed the rescue of a business woman, one Onyi Ugba, who was kidnapped from her shop about a week ago in Mile 1 Diobu axis of Port Harcourt city.

According to the CP, “The Hunter Strike Unit of the Command, while working on credible information at about 1400hrs at Ogbakiri Forest Emouha, LGA, Rivers State, on July 14, 2023 stormed the camp of a notorious kidnap kingpin, one Princewill Urlu (aka Boboyo), now at large.

“Five suspects, namely Adebayo Mercy Aanu, Ikpendu Ibeche, Olu Gabriel, Godtime Samuel and ThankGod Wori were arrested.

“Two AK47 rifles with breech numbers 5185 and 12369, 142 rounds of AK47 live ammunition, 24 rounds of FNC live ammunition, 20 live ammunition for GPMG, Four bulletproof vests, 36 knee guards, and 12 expended AK47 ammunition were also recovered.”

He assured the public that police operatives are on their toes to ensure that the fleeing suspects (the kingpin and his cohorts) are brought to justice.

Also, Nwonyi disclosed that “Operatives of Abali park division, on Saturday, July 15, 2023, at about 04:30hrs while on stop and search at Kaduna Street/Aba Road behind, MRS Filling Station, intercepted a Nissan Primera Car with reg. No. Rivers NCH 274 AA, color blue.

“Immediately, two of the occupants ran away, leaving a woman who was blindfold inside vehicle. When she was untied, she told them how she was kidnapped from her shop, at Umoji Street, Mile One Diobu Port Harcourt, on Friday, July 7, 2023.”

Nwonyi assured the public that investigation is in progress to arrest the fleeing suspects.

One Victor Monday, was also arrested by operatives of the command for involvement in car snatching at Azubuike Estate Okpulor In Obio/Akpor LGA, of the State.

Meanwhile, Nwonyi has called on residents of Rivers state for their active participation in supporting dedicated police officers in their relentless pursuit to combat all forms of criminal activities within the state.