Briefing journalists on behalf of the Commander 4 Brigade/Sector 1 Joint Task Force Operation, Benin City, Brigadier-General Pat Akem, Army Public Relations Officer, Captain Roselyn Managbe, said troops under the command also arrested a suspected kidnap kingpin, Joel Ogbu, a.k.a Avenue, who facilitated the arrest of other members of his gang.
Managbe said: “On June 26, troop of 222 Battalion, on patrol at Orhoror Junction on the Bomadi Road, in Delta State, around 2.00 a.m, arrested a suspected armed robber, who claimed to be a police inspector attached to ‘A’ Department of the Nigeria Police, Bayelsa State Command. He was caught blocking the road with woods, while other members of his gang, who were armed, took cover in the bush along the road. When he sighted the Nigerian Army Quick Response Group driving towards them, the inspector tried to withdraw into the bush, but was caught, while other members of his gang escaped.
“In his confessional statement, the suspect revealed that members of his gang were all serving police personnel, who indulge in robbery activities after their normal duties. The suspect also confessed that an Assistant Superintendent of Police (name withheld) and an Inspector of ‘B’ Department of the Nigeria Police Force, Bayelsa State Command, are members of his gang.”
Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, the arrested inspector, however, said he was arrested on his first outing as an armed robber.
“It happened that they were robbing people and I decided to join them. I was not in uniform, but others were in uniform,” he said.
Also paraded among the suspected criminals was a Lance Corporal, who was dismissed from the Army.
Some of the items recovered from the suspected criminals included an axe, locally-made double-barrelled guns and handsets.
Tribune
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