Police Arrest Suspected Robbery, Kidnapping Syndicates

Operatives of the Rivers State Police command, have arrested a suspected armed robbery and kidnapping syndicates after tracing them to Kano, Abuja, Nasarawa and Gombe states.

The Police public relations officer (PPRO) in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, said those arrested include; Tamunor Kubie Okari, aged 23, from Okrika in Rivers State; Vincent Kobani aged 20, from Gokana local government area of Rivers State; and one Monima George, aged 22,  from Buguma in Asari Toru local government area of Rivers State.

Others are; Shehu Shagari, aged 33 from Kaduna South, Kaduna State; Hamisu Babangida , based in Port Harcourt and Ibrahim Abubakar as well as Nuhu Ahmed, aged 30; Ibrahim Abubakar, aged 37, of Kala local government area of Bornu State and Abdullahi, aged 30, both from Yola South local government area of Adamawa State.

The statement said six firearms, 30 ammunition and three vehicles were recovered from the suspects.

It reads in part: “Operatives of the C4i Intelligence Unit of the Rivers State Police command, in the course of investigating a case of kidnapping and armed robbery reported on January 15, 2023; on Friday May 12, 2023 travelled to the Kano State and successfully effected the arrest of one Abdullahi Ibrahim.

“In the process, the team recovered a Black 2010 Toyota Matrix with Reg. No. SPR 283 TA, and a Blue 2008 Toyota Camry with Reg. No. ABC 49 AT, both believed to have been snatched or stolen from Port Harcourt.

“Consequent upon the arrest, the Police operatives successfully trailed and arrested his co-conspirators, Okari, from Okrika in Rivers State; Kobani, from Gokana local government area of Rivers State; and George from Buguma in Asari Toru local government area of Rivers State.

“Three locally made pistols and two live cartridges were recovered from Vincent Kobani upon his arrest at Victoria Street, Port Harcourt.

“The suspects confessed to the crime and described how they forcefully snatched the said Toyota Matrix from one of their victims, and thereafter withdrew the sum of N209,000 using his GT Bank ATM card.