Police arrest armed robbery suspects, recover English pistol, tricycle, others

Etim Ekpimah

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested two members of an armed robbery   syndicate that specialized in dispossessing unsuspecting drivers of their tricycles, popularly known as Keke NAPEP.

The suspects, one Steve Green, aged 38 and one Adaugo Darlington, a female, who usually pretends to be pregnant to attract sympathy, all posed as passengers, attacked drivers with knives and machetes and pushed him down while still on motion.

The syndicate, however, ran out of luck on 31st March 2022 along Rumunduru Eneka in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, when police operatives of Eneka Division, while on routine patrol, got to the scene where their last victim, one Lasisi Akeem was dispossessed of his tricycle.

The Ag. Police Public Relations Officer, Rivers State Command, DSP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the victim who had machete cuts was able to describe his tricycle and the suspects.

She added that the gallant officers immediately chased and apprehended two of the suspects and recovered the tricycle.

She stated that the victim was rushed to the hospital for medical treatment while efforts were on to nab the  two others who escaped, adding that investigation has commenced.

Meanwhile, operatives of the Rivers State Command C4i Team attached to Etche Local Government Area, acting on credible intelligence, raided a criminal hideout at Okehi Etche, where they successfully arrested two male suspects – Njoku Chimanya aged 19 years, and Chijioke Umesurum, aged 20, who are suspected to be members of a secret cult.

The PPRO stated that a stainless English pistol with breech no. 323898, and some items suspected to be hard drugs, were recovered from the suspects.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Eboka Friday while reiterating the commitment of his command to combating crimes and criminality to a negligible level, assured that the suspects would be charged for the crimes.

He also advised tricycle drivers to be wary of passengers boarding in groups especially at night time.