Police arrest 18 suspected armed robbers, cultists in Bayelsa

The Bayelsa State police command has arrested 10 suspected cultists and eight alleged armed robbers following various operations carried out by its operatives across the state.

The command also recovered one AK47 riffle, seven-locally made pistols, four locally-made single-barrel guns, stolen saloon car, three cutlasses, eight live cartridges, suspected Indian hemps and packets of tramadol.

Parading the suspects and the recovered items, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Don Awunah, said the feat was achieved following his decision to flag off, Operation Safer Bayelsa, immediately he assumed office few weeks ago.

Awunah fingered cultism as a driving force for most criminal activities in the state explaining that cultism permeated the ranks of misguided youths and induced them to engage in criminality.

He identified the major cult groups operating in the state as Icelanders, Greenlanders, Bobos, De Bam, De Well, Black Axe and the Vikings.

But he said the command was recording huge successes in its war against cultism following a newly created Anti-Cultism Unit at the State Crime Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID).

He disclosed that a crack team of the police foiled an attempt by three cultists, Gospel Peter, Chijioke Egi and Felix Obeni to initiate one Henry Chukwu at Igbogene area of the state.

He further said that youths of Ologi community in collaboration with the police nabbed Joe Gilbert, Moses Look-Me and James Okafor, terrorising the community.

Awunah, however, said: “The proliferation of small arms and light weapons has posed a greater challenge in combating cases of armed robbery. The command through collaboration with members of the public and intensive surveillance have smashed a number of armed robbery gangs”.

The police boss said three unknown gunmen operating in Toyota Corolla car with registration number JJJ 712 EW attacked and shot one Okoye Igali and robbed him of an undisclosed amount of money.

He said though the victim later died in the hospital, the police saw the vehicle and the suspects along Tenacious Road, Edepie.

“On sighting the police, the hoodlums abandoned the vehicle and ran away. The vehicle was recovered and searched, one locally-made pistols with five cartridges and the sum of N228,000.

“Manhunt has commenced for the fleeing suspects. Investigation is ongoing. Evidently, the victims came from neighbouring state and we are on their trail”, he said.

The police boss also said that a suspected drug trafficker identified as Sylvester Oseobe was shot when he attempted to snatch a policeman’s rifle.

He said the police searched him and recovered a bag containing suspected Indian hemp and packets of tramadol but that he was shot in her right leg following his attempt to snatch the riffle.

Awunah said the police recorded successes in their operations because if the goodwill and support of the law-abiding people in the state.

He said: “We want to assure all peace-loving members of the public that the safety of their lives and property is paramount and non-negotiable. The police command under my watch remain irrevocably committed to quality service delivery.

“Those, who foist insecurity on the people under the guise of politics, primordial interests, divide and rule mentality, obstruction of justice and pursuit of self-glorification , should know that there is a paradigm shift from traditional reactionary policing to modern proactive policing in Bayelsa State.

“A new dawn has arrived predicated on service delivery, accountability, integrity, rule of law and responsive policing”

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