Notorious robbers caught with pistols in Rivers
The two notorious robbers
Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Operatives of the anti-kidnapping unit of the Rivers Police Command have arrested two suspected armed robbers during a raid on their hideout at Elelewon axis of Poer Harcourt, the state capital.
The two robbers were arrested on 27 December following an earlier complaint to the police by one of their victims who was robbed of his valuables at Odani junction in the Elelenwo community, according to the spokesperson of the Rivers Police Command
She added that the police have received similar complaints of armed robbery at the same area in the same period.
She added that in response to the complaints, the State Commissioner of Police immediately tasked the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to flush out the armed robbers from the area and in response, the unit carried out stop-and-search operations and placed the area under surveillance.
The operations led to the arrest of one Azubuike Orji, 27, a native of Arochukwu in Abia State, who claimed to be a bus conductor. The suspect, who was released from the Nigerian Correctional Service a few months ago, was arrested with a locally-made pistol.
The Police spokesperson disclosed that the suspect confessed that he is working for the leader of armed robbery syndicate, Anthony Augustine, and that his speciality in the gang was peddling drugs and servicing guns.
She explained that a related investigation, through intelligence, led the police to an auxiliary nurse who turned out to be the wife of the armed robbery gang leader. Further interrogations led to the discovery of a 7-room brothel located in Odani, Elelenwo that served as a hideout for members of the syndicate.
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SP Koko revealed that on December 10, 2023, the gang leader, Anthony Augustine, 22, was arrested at Green City Estate in Odani, Elelenwo, amidst widespread jubilation from residents as he and his gang had been a terror to the community.
She listed items recovered from the suspects to include an iPhone XX, suspected packs of marijuana, POS machines, and locally-made pistols.
The statement disclosed that the leader of the gang confessed to running the brothel as a guise for his underworld activities.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Tunji Disu hailed the efforts of the men of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and encouraged residents of Rivers State to promptly report crime as it happens to enable the police to apprehend criminals and nip crime in the bud.
CP Disu also warned the public against buying used items, especially phones, regardless of how cheap they are, citing that such purchases can lead to more significant problems.
Two suspected armed robbers and guns recovered by the anti-robbery detectives.
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