Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of a one-chance robbery syndicate following an operation linked to the robbery of a female passenger in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
Police spokesperson, ASP ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo disclosed the arrest in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Saturday, describing it as another breakthrough in the command’s ongoing crackdown on one-chance operators.
According to the police, the suspects, identified as Uche Samuel, 45, from Imo State, and Nkechi Amadi, 42, from Nekede in Imo State, were apprehended after allegedly participating in the crime.
The command said the arrests were carried out in line with directives from the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, as part of efforts to dismantle criminal gangs operating across the state.
Investigations revealed that the victim had boarded a minibus in the Rumuosi area without realising that the occupants were members of a robbery gang.
An eyewitness said, “Moments later, the lady started shouting and tried to escape from the robbers but was resisted by them (the one-chance gang).
“The shouting, the brawl and the voice of the lady, however, attracted passers-by who chased after the speeding vehicle. The driver didn’t know his way and got stuck, and residents started attacking them before the police arrived.”
The witness added that police officers intervened, rescued the suspects from the mob and took them into custody.
Agabe said the suspects confessed during interrogation, while efforts had been intensified to track down other members of the syndicate still at large.
Adepoju reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling one-chance operations and other violent crimes, warning that criminal elements would find no refuge in the state.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information to security agencies to support crime prevention and the arrest of offenders.
