BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
Operatives of Edo State police Command have apprehended five suspected criminals and recovered from them a 300kva and 100kva electricity transformers, two drums of 2.5mm flex cable wire, guns and ammunition.
Also recovered are vehicles, motorcycles, gold chains and bracelets stolen from crime victims.
The suspects, KC Okojie Prince, 50, Richard John Abdullahi, 40, Ifeanyi Okpara, 26, Dennis Okosun, 25, Edwin Iruogbe, 27 Christian Okagbare, 31, and Shehu Ismail, 25 a criminal receiver.
The Commissioner of Police, Edo State (CP) Nemi Iwo paraded the suspects before journalists in Benin City, Friday.
CP Nemi stated that KC Okojie Prince in connivance with others now at large, on August 11, 2024 deceitfully accessed No. 8, Idugboe Estate, Off Sapele road, Benin City and made away with one 300kva transformer, one 100kva transformer and two drums of 2.5mm flex cable wire.
“Diligent investigation by operatives of X-Squad Benin-City led to the arrest of the culprit one KC Okojie Prince 50yrs who confessed to have committed the crime with one Ojo (surname unknown) who is now at large.
“He further led our operatives to the receiver of the stolen items, one Aruka Uche 40yrs and all the equipment were recovered at no. 5 Eben Street, off Akpakpava, Benin-City. Efforts is ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect”, he said.
In a separate incident, Richard John Abdullahi, 40 was alleged to have on May 7, 2024 led other masked armed gang members to invade the home of one Promise Ehichoya at Illela quarters in Ekpoma town, tied him up, took him to unknown location and collected #6,000,000 before releasing him.
“The suspects made away with the victim’s vehicle and other household items including phones of various make, electronics, jewelries and clothing from the house. However, his vehicle, a Toyota Venza with Reg No LND 438 HM was later abandoned and recovered to the station.
“Acting on technologically driven intelligence, operatives of the State Intelligence Department SID, trailed and arrested one Richard John Abdullahi 40yrs at the Zone C area of Apo resettlement quarters, Abuja. A Beretta pistol with three (3) live ammunitions was recovered from a bag in his possession.
“Further search in his home led to the recovery of the gold chain and bracelet earlier stolen during the kidnap incident in Ekpoma. The arrested suspect mentioned other members of the gang now at large as Ishmael Peter (Gang Leader), Emmanuel Audu and one Lucky whom he met while serving jail term at the Koton-Karfe Prison, Kogi State.
“He led the operatives to the homes of Emmanuel Audu and Ishmael Peter where some electronics and clothing earlier stolen from the victim were recovered, but the suspects were unfortunately nowhere to be found. An unregistered gold coloured Toyota Sienna and two motorcycles used for their operations were also recovered. Concerted efforts have been put in place to ensure the fleeing suspects are brought to book,” CP Nemi stated.
On the arrest and recovery of a locally made pistol, two live cartridges and a stolen vehicle, CP Nemi stated that on August 23, 2024 at about 8:30PM, one Iwologbe Raphael of Judges quarters in Ekpoma town reported that his Toyota Highlander with Reg No RBC 66 AQ was snatched at gunpoint by unknown persons who operated in a motorcycle.
“On the strength of this complaint, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit through painstaking tech-driven investigation, led to the recovery of the snatched vehicle and the arrest of all the suspects involved; Ifeanyi Okpara 26yrs, Dennis Okosun 25yrs, Edwin Iruogbe 27yrs, Shehu Ismail 25yrs (Reciever).
“A locally made pistol with two (2) live cartridges was equally recovered in their possession. (All the suspects have confessed to the crime and will soon be charged to court.”
Also, CP Nemi said on August 4, 2024, the duo of Osaigbovo Charles and Iyare Stanley, both of Iyanomo community by Rubber research Institute, off Sapele road, Benin City reported at the station with varying degrees of injuries on their bodies alleging that some OPC members from same community fired shots at them which resulted in the injuries sustained without any provocation.
“Victims were rushed to the hospital where they were admitted, treated and discharged. After concerted efforts by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping unit, one Christian Okagbare 31yrs was arrested. He confessed to the crime and took the operatives to the spot where he buried the firearm, he used in committing the offence. Investigation is ongoing”, CP Nemi maintained.
CP Nemi, however, solicited the support and cooperation of the public to fish criminals out.
