Trouble Looms for Corrupt Policemen in Rivers
4 min read
Edith CHUKU
There is trouble ahead for corrupt policemen in Rivers as the states commissioner of police, Emeka Nwonyi has charged the CP Monitoring Unit to monitor activities of police officers in the command.
Nwonyi noted that any officer found wanting would be dealt with in accordance with the extant law of the Nigeria Police. In various parts of the state, policemen mount what is generally believed to be illegal check points, where they extort commercial drivers, including keke riders.
Some of them, especially around the newly constructed Eneka-Igbe Etche road, Rukpokwu-Eneka Road, Elimbu, Choba, mount road blocks at night and sometimes in the morning hours, dressed in questionable attires and slippers. Some of them use unmarked rickety sienna cars with doors wide open as they patrol and terrorise the town.
The CP stated this in a press briefing, on Monday. He said during the weekend, the state police command arrested a suspected Vikings cult Kingpin known as Kenneth Mkpe at Bomu at Tai LGA.
According to him, “I am here to brief you on another worthy successes and achievements recorded in the command, in the fight against crime and criminality. The Command under my leadership has achieved other laudable feats:
“Operatives of Rivers State Police Command attach to Anti-cultism Unit, on 16/06/2023 at about 2356hrs, while on patrol along Rukpokwu Market, stopped a Toyota Corolla, ash colour with Reg. No. SMK 476 DP registered in Lagos, with three occupants: Loveday Friday, ‘M” 26yrs, residents of Igwuruta, Rivers State.
On conducting a search of the said car, one locally made pistol, two live cartridges, two expended cartridges, and two masks were recovered from the suspects. Investigation still in progress.
“Rapid Response Team (RRT) Operatives of the Command, on 17/6/2023 at about 0500hrs arrested one Maduabuchi Ali ‘M,’ 24yrs of age, along Station Road, Port Harcourt. Upon search, one locally made pistol, cartridge, a vehicle tyre and some car accessories were recovered. The suspect and exhibits have been handed over to Operation Sting base for further investigation.”
Nwonyi said, “On 18/06/2023 at about 1300hrs, Operatives of Special Area Division, received a report from One Nwankwo Jude ‘M,’ of NTA Road Mbuoba, that he parked his Toyota Camry Car Black in Color with registration number ABJ 74 AE along their street, suddenly he heard a noise, immediately he came out and saw a stranger driving his car out of the street. He raised an alarm, and a patrol team at Rumuigbo, swiftly intercepted, and arrested the suspect, one Enobong Maffet ‘M,” 32yrs, from Akwa Ibom State. Investigation still in progress.
“On 17/06/2023 at about 1020hrs, Police Operatives of the Command, received a distress call name withheld, at Obiwali Road, who reported that three young men brought in a blood-stained gold Toyota Camry without a plate number, for respray at a mechanic workshop. Police Operatives immediately mobilized to the scene, but unfortunately, the hoodlums had already escaped. The vehicle has been recovered further investigation.”
The CP also revealed that, “On 18/06/2023 at about 0900hrs, Operatives of C4i Intelligence Unit, acting on a tip-off, swung into action and arrested one Osinachi Ngwakwe ‘M,’ aged 21yrs, a native of Ubakala in Umuahia South LGA of Abia State but resident at Rumukwushi, Port Harcourt. Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a member of a four-man gang that specializes in armed robbery and has been terrorizing Port Harcourt and its environs. An operational vehicle, one Toyota Sienna Car with Reg No. LND 320 HF, was recovered. The suspect is in police custody for a discreet investigation with a view to apprehending other members of the gang and recovering their operational weapons.”
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The Rivers Police Boss disclosed that, “A team of Operatives of Anti-Cultism Unit of the Command, on 17/6/2023 at about 1930hrs, upon credible information, stormed a criminal hideout at Bumu Tai, in Tai LGA of Rivers State and arrested one Kenneth Mkpeh ‘M,’ who is a member of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity. One portable English-made Baretta pistol was recovered from him. Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed that he bought the pistol from one Ishmaila Lee ‘M,’ a Philipino that works in a Fertilizer Company, Lagos State. An investigation has commenced to apprehend other members of his cult group.
He further explained that Curbing crime in the society was a collective job, even as he called on residents of the state to be open and supportive to security Operatives in the fight against crime and criminality.
Nwonyi further explained that ‘SARS’ was not operational in Rivers State. He said ‘SARS’ remains disbanded in Rivers State as directed by Inspector General of Police
He however added that he had directed CP Monitoring unit to monitor activities of Police officers in the command and that anyone found wanting will be dealt with in accordance with the extant law of the Nigeria Police.
