Police nab 18 suspects, recover 47 guns in Rivers

…Arrest car snatcher in fake military camouflage By Davies Iheamnachor PORT HARCOURT: The Rivers State Police Command has arrested 18 suspected criminals and recovered 47 firearms of various calibres, 12 stolen vehicles and 420 rounds of live ammunition in operations conducted across the state between June and August 12, 2026. The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday, saying the command had recorded significant progress in its operations against murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and vehicle theft. On the killing of policemen attached to the Aluu Division, Adepoju recalled that officers on stop-and-search duty were attacked by hoodlums on June 29, 2026. He said two policemen were killed, while others sustained injuries, with one officer losing a leg in the attack. Two AK-47 rifles were also stolen. Adepoju said operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit and the Anti-Kidnapping Section subsequently arrested three suspected members of the gang allegedly responsible for the attack. The suspects, according to him, are Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, the alleged gang leader, also known as Doctor; Chinedu Owhor, 42; and Kamachi Joe, 28, described as the gang’s armourer. The CP said the suspects allegedly confessed to the crime, adding that one of them led operatives to the gang’s hideout in Omagwa, where the two stolen AK-47 rifles were recovered. He said the command was still making efforts to arrest another suspect linked to the attack. In a separate operation, Adepoju said operatives arrested members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate operating in Oyigbo Local Government Area. He identified four of the suspects as Ezekiel Emmanuel, 44; Chukwuma Mbanefu, 51; Nicolas Daila, 65; and another suspect, adding that they allegedly confessed to carrying out kidnappings in Komkom Railway, Obeama and Afam communities. According to him, two other members of the suspected syndicate, Anele Ogbogu, 35, allegedly the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27. He said four firearms, including an AK-47 rifle and a submachine gun, were recovered from the suspects. The commissioner added that two Beretta pistols, 97 rounds of live ammunition and a live cartridge were recovered from Allison Oguma, 35, who was arrested for allegedly threatening his wife with a firearm in Bonny. Adepoju also disclosed the arrest of two suspected members of a “one-chance” robbery syndicate, identified as Uche Samwe, 45, and Nkechi Amadi, 42, who allegedly confessed to involvement in the crime. He urged members of the public to promptly report incidents of “one-chance” robbery to the police to enable the command to identify the methods used by the syndicates and the areas where they operate. “In most cases, we just see them on social media. It has not always been reported officially at the police division nearest to where such incidents happen. “People should report such cases. We want to be able to know the style they are using and know the areas they operate,” he said. The CP further disclosed that on August 10, police officers on patrol along Ada-George Road intercepted Andrew Atausi, 49, who was allegedly dressed in military camouflage and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in army colours. Adepoju said preliminary investigation indicated that the suspect was allegedly involved in vehicle theft. He said three vehicles suspected to have been stolen, including two Toyota Hilux vehicles and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY380ES, were recovered from him. The commissioner assured residents that the command would sustain operations aimed at curbing violent crimes and other criminal activities across the state. The post Police nab 18 suspects, recover 47 guns in Rivers appeared first on Vanguard News.

Read More