The Rivers State Police Command has uncovered a network of armed robbers who specialize in using tricycles to rob residents of Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Also, the commissioner of police, Olatunji Disu, has ordered all divisions and tactical units to crack down on these criminals.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, police public relations officer Grace Iringe-Koko said: “In the past few months, armed robbers using Keke (tricycles) have attacked various parts of Rivers State. Commissioner of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu ordered all divisions and tactical units to crack down on these criminals.
“On April 4, 2024, the Rivers State Police Command arrested a four-man gang specialized in terrorizing residents in various parts of the state, especially Eliozu, and Rumuodara in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area; these gang posed as drivers or commuters of tricycles (Keke Napep) to rob innocent citizens of their valuable starting from 7 pm daily.
“In a bid to rob a victim of her belongings, two of them were arrested by the Elimgbu Division; Arinze Onovo ‘m’ age 32 years old from Ogu Local Government Area of Enugu State and Bright Okere ‘m’ age 29 years, a native of Ndoki Oyigbo local government area of Rivers State. Exhibits recovered are one tricycle and one kitchen knife.
Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the other gang members and recover their operational weapons.
“On March 8, 2024, operatives of the command, while on a routine patrol along Igbo/Etche in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, intercepted one Terry Monday ‘m’ age 22 yrs old, a native of Akwa-Ibom State and Chile Sunday ‘m’ age 24 yrs old a native from Abia State. They confessed to belonging to a gang resident in Abia State who constantly steals tricycles in Rivers State and diverts them to Abia for sale.
“They were in the process of diverting a stolen tricycle when they were apprehended.
Recovered from them are one tricycle, a locally made pistol, and one cartridge.
The Police are still on the hunt for two other members of the gang who fled, an ex-convict.
“On 27th April 2024, at about 7:45 am, during a routine stop and search along Eneka Road, Operatives of the Command intercepted one Joshua Chukwuemeka ‘m’ age 23yrs old, a Keke driver and a native of Imo State. Upon a search, one locally made rifle, and one live cartridge was found in his possession.
“The suspect led the police to his gang’s hideout in Ogbo, Ahoada East Local Government Area where one of his accomplices was arrested; one Martins Godspower ‘m’ age 24yrs old a native from Ogbo in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State. The rifle, cartridge, and their operational tricycle are in Police custody as the investigation is still ongoing,” the statement added.
