Six suspected armed bandits were detained by Rivers State Police Command agents on the Elele-Owerri Road in the state’s Ikwerre Local Government Area.
The suspected armed bandits were stopped during a “stop and search” operation along the route, according to the command’s spokeswoman, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.
The suspects’ names, according to the PPRO, are Boniface Owoicho “M” (55 years old), Momo Junior “M” (27 years old), Mudi Moses “M” (25 years old), Ibrahim John “M” (35 years old), Abdul Faruk “M” (23 years old), and Nuhu Imadi “M.” All of the suspects are from the Kogi State.
Iringe-Koko reported that 20 “AA” live cartridges and five weapons, including two automatic revolver barrels and three single barrels, were found on the suspects.
Four police belts, five knives, two military cardigans, three operating boats, one hat for Civil Defense, and two long-sleeved singlets with the phrases Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Services embroidered on them were among the additional items seized from the accused (NHFSS).
A bag containing chaplets, rings, beads, anointing oil, two touch lights, ten GSM cellphones, five ID cards, four face caps, two woven caps, one pair of Civil Defense operation pants, and a Muslim neck pullover were also found.
The statement reads in part, “Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command on Thursday, 26th January 2023, at about 1140hrs on stop and search duty along Elele Owerri Road intercepted a Toyota Sienna with Reg. No. KNE 194 AJ with six occupants namely: (1) Boniface Owoicho “M” Driver Age 55yrs, (2), Momo Junior “M” Age 27yrs, (3), Mudi Moses “M” Age 25yrs, (4), Ibrahim John “M” Age 35yrs, (5) Abdul Faruk “M” Age 23yrs and (6) Nuhu Imadi “M” all of Kogi State.
“Following a thorough search conducted in the vehicle, the police team recovered five arms, (Three English-made single barrels and two English-made automatic revolver barrels), and twenty AA live cartridges.
“Also recovered were four police belts, five knives, two military cardigans, three operational boats, one Civil Defence operation hat, two long-sleeved singlets engraved with Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Services (NHFSS), four face caps, two woven caps, ten GSM handsets, five ID cards, two touch lights, a bag containing chaplets, rings, beads, anointing oil, one Civil Defence operation trousers, and one Muslim neck pullover.
“A full-scale investigation has already commenced and those found culpable will be charged in court at the conclusion of the investigation.
“The Command urges all residents of Rivers State to remain calm, vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police with the following emergency numbers: 08039213071, 08098880134.”
