Police in Rivers State have apprehended two ex-convicts in Elelenwo community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, on charges of alleged armed robbery.
According to SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the police spokesperson in the state, the suspects, along with their accomplices who are on the run, have been notorious for terrorising the community for an extended period.
Iringe-Koko disclosed in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Thursday that the suspects had been under police surveillance for some time due to numerous complaints of violent assaults perpetrated by the gang on the community residents.
The recent incident leading to their arrest occurred on December 1 when a victim was robbed of valuables, prompting the police to initiate stop-and-search operations, surveillance, and regular patrols within the locality.
“The operation resulted in the arrest of a 27-year-old ex-convict who claimed to work as a bus conductor and was recently released from a correctional centre. Upon his arrest, he was found in possession of a locally-made pistol and confessed to serving a 22-year-old gang leader,” she explained.
The spokesperson further revealed that the detained suspect confessed to specialising in drug peddling and maintaining firearms for the gang.
Subsequent investigations led the police to a seven-room brothel owned by the gang leader, which served as both a hideout and a base for conducting robbery operations.
“The alleged gang leader was apprehended on Dec. 10 at Green City Estate in Elelenwo, leading to relief among the community’s already traumatised residents. Recovered items from the suspect include an iPhone XX, packs of marijuana, POS machines, and locally-made pistols,” Iringe-Koko stated.
She noted that the alleged gang leader confessed to using the brothel as a cover for his criminal endeavours and was previously involved in a robbery and murder case before being recently released from a correctional centre.
Assuring the public of the imminent arraignment of the suspects, Iringe-Koko stated that ongoing investigations aimed to capture the fleeing members of the gang.
(NAN)
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