By Christian Ogbonna
Yenagoa – The Bayelsa command of the Nigeria Police Force, on Tuesday, presented 13 persons suspected to be robbers and cultists in the state.
Presenting the suspects to newsmen at the command’s headquarters in Yenagoa, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Shola David, said that the police had reorganised its security set up to be able to redress violent crimes.
David, who vowed to prosecute the suspects after proper investigation, said that the police confronted the suspected robbers through focused and intelligence-driven raids on flash spots.
“On March 20, 2019, police operatives on surveillance at Swali, Yenagoa, arrested a notorious cultist – one Precious Egbo, a 17-year old man, in possession of a locally made pistol and one cartridge.
“The suspect has confessed to being a member of a cult group and has volunteered useful information for further investigation,” the commissioner stated
On the March 21 killing of two corps members in Swali, the police announced that they were working assiduously to ensure that the criminal gangs were apprehended and brought to book.
“On March 20, 2019 at about 2010 hours, two marked gunmen operating on a motorcycle went to the residence of one Mrs Amara Diekedie ‘ and kidnapped her daughter, one Dora Diekedie Dizieni, ‘female’ 8 years.
“The command control room was alerted and responded swiftly; the kidnappers were pursued and one of them was gunned down, and the eight- year old victim was rescued.
“Upon thorough search of the surrounding, two unserviceable locally fabricated AK 47 riffles were recovered.
“On 27/03/2019 at about 0100 hours, policemen on stop-and-search operation, at Glory Land Drive, Igbogene, Yenagoa arrested one Goodluck Evans, Chinedu Franklin, all native of Ahoada West, Rivers State, but residing at Igbogene, Yenagoa.
“The items found on the suspects include: five different phones, women lip glosses, eye-liners, face powder and eye glasses.
“The suspects couldn’t give reasonable account of the items,” the police commissioner said.
He called on residents of the state to support police in the fight against crime. (NAN)