Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command, have effected the arrest of suspected armed robbery and kindnappery 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 ‘M,’ aged 23, from Okrika in Rivers State; Vincent Kobani ‘M,’ aged 20, from Gokana local government area of Rivers State; and one Monima George ‘M,’ aged 22, from Buguma in Asari Toru local government area of Rivers State.

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

The statement said no fewer than .. recover 6 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 into a case of kidnapping and armed robbery reported on January 15, 2023, on Friday 12/5/23 travelled to the Kano State and successfully effected the arrest of one Abdullahi Ibrahim ‘M’, “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, one Tamunor Kubie Okari ‘M,’ aged 23, from Okrika in Rivers State; Vincent Kobani ‘M,’ aged 20, from Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State; and one Monima George ‘M,’ aged 22, 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.

“In another development, sequel to an earlier arrest of a suspected kidnapper who kidnapped his victim and her daughter (names withheld) on Saturday, April 15 2023, Operatives of the C4i Intelligence Unit raided an apartment on Plot 34 Lonpry Street, Trans Amadi.

“In the process, one AK47 rifle with Breach No. 0637, three magazines loaded with thirty rounds of live ammunition each, two long single-barreled guns, and one live cartridge were recovered.

“Similarly, following on an earlier arrest of a member of an armed robbery/car snatching syndicate, on Monday, 8th May 2023, Rivers State Police operatives proceeded on investigation activities to Abuja, Nasarawa and Gombe States, where they nabbed five suspects, strongly believed to be responsible for theft of cars in the state, and the sale of those stolen vehicles.

“They include one Shehu Shagari ‘M,’ aged 33 from Kaduna South, Kaduna State who is a major receiver of stolen vehicles from one Hamisu Babangida ‘M’ who is based in Port Harcourt, and a direct receiver from one Tamuno Kobiye ‘M,’ aka Okorobo, a suspected armed robber who is a native of Okrika and who has been convicted and imprisoned severally on similar offences; one Ibrahim Abubakar ‘M,’ aged 37, of Kala LGA in Bornu State who confessed that he bought one Prado Jeep from Shehu Shagari at the rate of N5m and re-sold the same to one Alhaji Abdullahi ‘M’ a Cameroonian.

“The same operation led to the arrest of one Nuhu Ahmed ‘M,’ aged 30 and Abdullahi ‘M,’ aged 30, both from Yola South LGA of Adamawa State.

“Exhibits recovered include a cash sum of Two Million Naira which was sent for the purchase of stolen Toyota Corolla; one Acura Jeep with Reg. No. PBT 10 JP registered on the name Mrs. Rebecca Mioko ‘F,” a resident of Rivers State.

“All the suspects will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations.”