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Tag: Rivers Police

  • Rivers Police unveil security measures for Christmas, New Year celebrations

    Rivers Police unveil security measures for Christmas, New Year celebrations

    The Rivers State Police Command has announced proactive measures to ensure a peaceful and secure Christmas and New Year celebration across the state.

    In a statement by the Command’s spokesperson, Superintendent of Police Grace Iringe-Koo, the initiative will be carried out in collaboration with other federal government security agencies to guarantee a festive season free from insecurity.

    The Command urged residents to use the season for sober reflection and prayers for the peace and progress of the state and the nation.

    “To this end, under the leadership of CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, psc, mnips, the Command has implemented a robust security framework, deploying tactical teams to strategic locations, including entry and exit points, waterways, motor parks, hotels, recreation centers, churches, mosques, and identified hotspots,” the statement said.

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    “This deployment is designed to provide visibility Policing, enhance surveillance, and facilitate rapid response to potential security breaches.

    “The CP has further directed all the Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) to deploy both operational and intelligence assets at their disposal to effectively Police their Areas of Responsibilities to ensure a hitch-free celebration.” the statement stated.

    Iringe- Koko further noted that community engagement are being intensified, involving the traditional rulers, youth organizations, and religious leaders to foster a culture of trust, promote public confidence, and encourage early intelligence sharing. 

     “This proactive approach aims to nip potential security threats in the bud and prevent incidents during the festive period.

    “In light of the festivities, parents are advised to exercise vigilance and caution their children against engaging in pyrotechnics (fireworks) and knockout shooting, which poses risks. “

    The command reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property of all citizens before, during and after the Christmas celebration, urging residents to endure the adopt and observe personal safety rules and endeavour to lock up their doors and window properly before going to bed at night, while remains vigilant in the day.

    It released dedicated emergency telephone numbers to be called by the residents when in trouble or report any incidence of concern.

    “Residents can report incidents or concerns to the nearest Police station or utilize the Command’s contact numbers:

    Control Room: 08032003514

    and CRU: 08120822987.

  • Rivers police search for missing 66-yr-old woman, two children

    Rivers police search for missing 66-yr-old woman, two children

    The Rivers State Police Command has launched a search for one 66-year-old Mary Bassey Simon, five-year-old Delight Ikechukwu and her sibling Divine.

    Declaring them missing, a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police (SP), disclosed that Simon resides at 22, Ibeto Road in Port Harcourt.

    The statement disclosed that she is fair complexioned, about 6ft tall, and speaks English and Ibibio languages fluently.

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    Iringe-Koko said Mary Simon left home on April 25, but all efforts to trace her whereabouts had yielded no result.

    She said the two missing siblings hail from Ezinihite Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State but reside at CJ compound, Afam Power Station in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    “They are dark and fair in complexion. They speak English and Igbo languages fluently. They left home on April 22, 2025. All efforts made to trace their whereabouts proved abortive,” she said.

  • BREAKING: Why we deployed fresh operatives to RSIEC office – Police

    BREAKING: Why we deployed fresh operatives to RSIEC office – Police

    The Rivers Police Command has responded to allegation by Governor Siminialayi Fubara that its operatives were at the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) office to cart away sensitive electoral materials meant for the local government elections. 

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Grace Iringe-Koko clarified the presence of new deployment of police personnel in the facility.

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    The statement reads: ‘It should be noted that Policemen from the Rivers State Government House were initially deployed to the River State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) but were withdrawn in response to the Federal High Court ruling of September 30, 2024, barring the Police from participating in the scheduled elections. 

    “Conversely, in reaction to credible and actionable intelligence received about plans by hoodlums to carry out an arson attack on the RSIEC office, police personnel were deployed to secure the premises.

    “The Rivers State Police Command remain committed to our duty to maintain the peace and ask residents of Rivers State to act within the confines of the law. The Police will do everything to maintain law and order”.

  • Police arrest armed fake inspector, recover AK47 purchased with N850,000 in Rivers

    Police arrest armed fake inspector, recover AK47 purchased with N850,000 in Rivers

    …Nab notorious cultist

    The police have arrested a fake inspector fully dressed in police camouflage and armed with an AK47 rifle, 10 magazines, and 29 rounds of live ammunition at Luegbo Community in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Olatunji Disu, said the fake policeman identified as 31-year-old Fred Monday was nabbed by the anti-kidnapping unit of the command.

    Parading the suspect, Disu narrated the circumstances that led to the arrest of Fred Monday.

    He said: “On August 9, 2024, at about 11.45 pm, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Rivers State Police Command responded to an intelligence report of a criminal operation in Luegbo Community in Khana Local Government Area.

    “On arriving at the scene, the police met with an ongoing gruesome cult initiation process. Five suspects, later found to be students of the Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic, were arrested.

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    “The students, Mduni Clement, Prosper Wonyingipreye, Kunle Joseph, Eken Evans, and Isaiah Elisha confessed to being members of the Vikings confraternity. They have been charged in court and are presently in a correctional centre.

    “While carrying out the arrest of the five cultists, the police encountered a man with them, fully dressed in Police camouflage and donning the rank of an Inspector of Police. He was armed with an AK-47 rifle, ten magazines, and twenty-nine rounds of live ammunition.

    “He was taken into custody and after interrogations, his identity was revealed as Fred Monday, a 31-year-old from Wiyakara Community in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State and resident at F-man Close, Eneka Link Road, Port Harcourt.”

    The police boss said Fred Monday confessed to being an impostor, who bought the rifle in 2021 for N850,000 from an accomplice, Goodluck aka Boy-J.

    Disu said: “He also bought ten magazines, thirty-one rounds of ammunition, and two hand grenades from the same accomplice. He disclosed to the police how he and other gang members would disguise as policemen to escort criminals to operate in different states, including Akwa-Ibom, Edo, Delta, and Rivers State.

    “Fred Monday is a confessed member of the Iceland cult group and has been carrying out numerous crimes using the cover of being a policeman to terrorize his victims. He is also an armed robber who operated as a Keke (tricycle) rider during the day, scanning the area for possible victims to attack under the cover of night.

    “The investigation is still on as the Police is getting closer to rounding up other members of his gang

    Exhibits recovered from the suspect are 1 AK-47 rifle, 10 magazines 29 rounds of live ammunition.”

  • How we rescued one-year-old baby boy, by Rivers Police

    How we rescued one-year-old baby boy, by Rivers Police

    Boy sold for N1.4m • Mum lured, attacked in forest

    The Police in Rivers State have narrated how a one-year-old baby boy, allegedly abducted and sold for N1.4 million was rescued by men of the command.

    The baby victim, Desire Orlu was reportedly taken away after a child trafficking syndicate led by one Polycarp Uzoma, a native of Ohaji in Imo State allegedly lured and attacked the (victim’s) mother, Queen Orlu, (20 years old), at a forest, to a state of unconsciousness.

    According to the spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police(SP), at a briefing on the Command’s recent achievements, three of the child trafficking syndicate have been arrested and were among the criminal suspects paraded yesterday.

    Iringe-Koko said the incident happened in a forest at Ucheabuor community, in Ubima Ikwerre Local Government Area, last month and that the police stepped into the matter following a tip-off from a kind-hearted member of the community.

    She said when the police got to the scene of the crime, the baby’s mother was found lying helplessly in the pool of her blood, with injuries and her intestine pushing out through a cut on her stomach, while the baby had been taken away.

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    The Police image maker, however, said the mother was later revived and taken to the hospital where she is receiving treatment, while they went after and recovered the baby from the buyer.

    The Police said:  “On August  25, 2024, about 6.35 a.m., operatives of the Command attached to Ubima Divisional Headquarters received a complaint from a middle-aged woman (name and address withheld), indicating that one Queen Orlu, ‘f’ , aged 20 years was seen lying unconscious on Omeka Farmland at Ucheabuor.

    “Operatives immediately mobilised to the scene where the victim was met in a pool of blood with multiple injuries all over her body and her intestines protruding out of a cut on her stomach.

    “Police investigations revealed that the victim was lured into a bush path at Ubima by one Polycarp Uzoma, ‘m’, of Akwa in Ohaji LGA of Imo State, but resident at Ubima.

  • Family of murdered Rivers Police inspector demands justice

    Family of murdered Rivers Police inspector demands justice

    The family of the slain female Police Inspector, Mrs. Christiana Erekere, has demanded justice for the gruesome murder of their daughter.

    Erekere, serving in Rivers State, was hacked to death by youths numbering over 40 at her duty post at Taabaa in Khana Local Government Area.

    The victim, a widow and mother of four, who was serving at Taabaa Divisional Police station,  was reportedly killed with stones and sticks by the irate youths.

    It was gathered the killers were wedding guests on their way from Delta to Akwa Ibom State.

    A source, who witnessed the incident  but spoke in confidence, said the youths became angry  when the police on stop-and-search operation in the area questioned the validity of the document of one of their vehicles.

    The source said: “On 25 of April 2024 at about 2:30pm, Inspector Christiana Erekere (female) while on duty at Taabaa Division in Khana local Government Area of Rivers state, was beaten to death by some group of persons with three vehicles from Delta State going to Akwa-Ibom state for marriage.

    “The boys were intercepted at a stop and search point, directly opposite Police Station, Taabaa, by a police officer attached to Taabaa police station. The particulars of one of the vehicles was collected by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) because of unclear explanation concerning the particulars of the vehicle. 

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    “The police officer decided to go to the office so that he can be furnished with sufficient information. Now the deceased saw the way the boys were chasing her superior officer and she started raising alarm for help so that the attack will be prevented but no one was there to assist or prevent these group of people that succeeded in attacking the police station and killing the innocent woman. 

    “The boys quickly attacked her because she was making video of them. Even when she fainted, they continued beating and left her and drove away. On their way to Akwa-Ibom, they were apprehended. For now, about 17 persons were identified and arrested and others are still at large.”

    The elder sister to the victim, Mrs. Nule Felix, said her sister was mercilessly killed and rushed to a hospital where she was confirmed dead 

    Nule said: “All efforts at the hospital to revive her was abortive. She has been deposited in the mortuary. She was a widow with four children and her aged mother who is over 80. We are seeking for Justice.” 

  • Rivers police arrest 13 officers for indecent dressing

    Rivers police arrest 13 officers for indecent dressing

    The Rivers State Police Command says it arrested 13 of its officers for indecent dressing at different locations in Port Harcourt. 

    The command also assured that the killers of a former Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada East Local Government Area, SP Bako Angbasim, would be arrested and brought to justice. 

    The State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, spoke during a live programme organized by the Force Public Relations Department at the weekend. 

    Disu said the policemen were nabbed during a patrol by the command’s monitoring unit and were being detained.

    He said: “During a routine patrol in different parts of city, we arrested about 13 officers who are indecently dressed.

    This is part of an ongoing effort to stop indecent dressing by officers of the command.

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    “And the head of the divisions where these arrested officers are serving will be vicariously liable for the personnels’ conduct.”

    He assured that the death of SP Bako would not be swept under the carpet.

    Bako was captured in December and decapitated by suspected Iceland cult group led by one Gift Okpara, popularly called 2Baba in Odiemude community in Ahoada East LGA.

    Disu said he was overwhelmed by the concern shown by members of the public on the murder of  the DPO adding that he was in talks with stakeholders in Ahoada to arrest the prime suspect.

    On his objective for the command, Disu said: “As police we cannot succeed without cooperation, partnership from members of the public. I have started fostering partnership between the Police and members of the public.

    “I had meetings twice with traffic section of the police to remind them that they must be civil in their dealings with members of the public. I want to work with members of the public so they can trust us and give us information.”

  • Suspect accuses police of torture, theft during invasion of home

    Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have been accused of torturing a man into coma during attempt to arrest the suspect.

    A Port Harcourt-based businessman, Prince Steven Lemachi, said he was beaten blue-black by the police during an attempt to arrest him over a petition filed against him before the Commissioner of Police over land dispute.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, said the police had gone to arrest the victim based on a petition to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmed Zaki, by one Edna Wobilor.

    Omoni said one SUPOL Adetuyi Benson acted on orders based on the petition against the suspect over a landed property in Rumuodomaya.

    He justified the actions of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) personnel, stressing that Lemachi was training bad boys in his premises.

    He said the operation was carried out at midnight because of the magnitude of the petition against the suspect.

    Omoni said, “We cannot say that his premises was invaded. There was a valid complaint that was lodged by a complainant to the Commissioner of Police. The petition was endorsed by the CP to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

    “SARS swung into action and went for the suspect mentioned in the petition one Prince Steven Lemachi. He was alleged to have sponsored some bad boys who invaded the land that is in dispute.

    “When the police got there he could not submit himself peacefully for arrest but resorted to violence. In the process he assaulted the police officer and was arrested. As it stands he is in the hospital for treatment. After his treatment he would be charged to court.”

    “Lemachi harbours criminal elements in his compound. So when the police got there he tried to evade arrest. Police can arrest at any point in time if an offence was committed by the suspect.

    “I know SUPOL Benson in SARS very well, if he was the person that led them team he acted on the petition sent to the commissioner of police.”

     

  • Police arrest three robbery suspects in Rivers

    The Rivers Police Command has arrested three armed robbery suspects caught while trying to rob a new generation bank at Eagle Cement area of Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt.

    A statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer in Rivers, Nnamdi Omoni, said the arrest followed a distress call to the police at midnight on Thursday.

    It said the arrested suspects were in their late 20s.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items recovered from the suspects included one cooking gas cylinder, one handsaw, one chisel and two bags.

    “One of the police men sustained gunshot wound during exchange of gunfire and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital,” the statement added.

     

  • Rivers: Police rescue boy abducted by mother’s driver

    Rivers: Police rescue boy abducted by mother’s driver

    Men of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU), of the Rivers state Police command has rescued a four year old boy, Goodnews Tenalo, allegedly abducted by his mother’s driver, Jeremiah Igiri, in Port Harcourt, the state capital, last April.

    The Little boy was reportedly abducted by Igiri and two others including a young woman from his Worji residence, shortly after he returned from School Tuesday, April 19.

    He (victim), was subsequently taken to Eliozu axis, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state where he was left in the care of the female accomplice, who little Goodnews later identified as Aunty Blessing. The victim reportedly detained by his abductors for 17 days.

    They were demanding N20 million ransom from the mother of the child, Mrs. Georgina Tenalo, a practicing Lawyer.

    Igiri admitted committing the crime and said he initiated and organized child’s kidnap, and then brought Blessing and another (a male), who came and took away the boy after he (Igiri), had led the child outside the gate.

    He expressed regrets at his actions, claiming that he does not know why he did that, especially when his Madam (employer), was good to him.

    The Police on Sunday May 8, 2016, also rescued in Port Harcourt, the state capital, 11 year old Chisom Okafor from Ndimoko community near Umunze round about in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra state.

    Chisom who was reportedly kidnapped by four suspected hoodlums between 9 and 10 am on his way to an errand for his father, Kingsley Okafor within his community (Ndimoko), same Sunday was rescued in Port Harcourt by Police officers on stop and search duty at Eliozu junction by 5: Pm. The hoodlums are suspected to be ritual killers.

    They however fled from the Police in their car after they Police forced them to drop the boy. The victim said he was blind folded with a handkerchief by his abductors immediately he was forcefully carried into the vehicle.

    The victim said, “My father sent me to go and call my younger brother around 9 and 10 o’clock, Sunday morning. I was on my way when the vehicle drove and suddenly stopped, three men came out of the car, quickly carried me into the car, i was shouting and calling for help but nobody came out before they quickly drove out.

    “Immediately they carried me into the vehicle the blindfolded me with their handkerchief and rolled up the car window glasses. There was an Air conditioner in the car,” the boy narrated.

    He gave the name of his father as Kingsley Okafor, a carpenter. The police is making efforts to locate the parents or any of the relatives so he could be reunited with his family members.

    Speaking to newsmen on the abduction of her little son, Mrs. Tenalo said she met and employed Igiri from a car hire company after testing his driving skill for four years (from 2012), and that he has worked with her as a permanent driver for just two months.

    She regretted the pains Igiri inflicted on her and family members and said that while the search for the boy was on, he (suspect), was also searching on with the rest members of the family and was taking her to everywhere including Churches and Police stations.

    She advised the government on the need to set up a bureau that would properly investigate domestic workers before they would be hired into peoples’ home, to avoid the continued repetition of the agony they (domestic staff), put families through.

    Also the Lawyer advised on the need for security agencies, especially the Nigerian Police to employ the services of trained Psychologists to help them in the interrogation and investigation of suspects for prompt and better results.

    Earlier, the command’s spokesman, Ahmad Muhammad Public relation officer (PRO), who is a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the child would have been recovered earlier, but for the fear of the mother that something might go wrong if the Police should move into the Eliozu axis after the number the kidnappers used in calling for ransom gave the signalled when tracked that the call came from Eliozu.

    Muhammad called on members of the public to always have confidence for safe rescue of their beloved ones when issues of kidnap occur.

    “We want to use this opportunity to appeal to the relatives of kidnap victims to always cooperate and trust in the ability of the Police to safely rescue their beloved ones like in this case.” He was referring to the case of little Goodnews.

    “The question of paying ransom is always discouraged by the force as we believe that safe rescue of kidnap victim is always possible.”