Over 70 teenagers, ranging from aged 12 to 17, were arrested by the Bayelsa state police command at criminal hideouts in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The police commissioner Mr. Amber Asuquo said the teenagers were abusing weeds suspected to be Indian Hemps and that they were also engaged in heavy drinking of alcohol.
“At their tender age, they were already breeding ground for cultism and armed robbery. The police said they wont arraign them. They would counsel them in the presence of their parents and free them. This clearly shows that there is failed parenthood in Bayelsa. “
Also the Police Command has confirmed the arrest and release of Mr. Oguanisi Akpusu, the Nephew to Former President Goodluck Jonathan over the alleged shooting of two persons during a Masquerade Festival at Emeyal 1 community of Ogbia Local Government Area of the State.
According to the Police Commissioner, Mr. Asuquo Amba, who confirmed the incident yesterday in Yenagoa during the parade of suspects and briefing of news men in the state, said though investigations showed that the shooting was “accidental”, the victims of the accidents sustained gun shots to their legs and thigh.
According to Police Commissioner Amba, Jonathan’s Nephew, who was part of the ongoing Masquerade Festival in Ogbia kingdom shot an Hausa and Igbo indigenes at Omeyal 1 and arrested by Policemen attached to the Kolo Divisional Police and case moved to the serious crime unit of the State Police Command in Yenagoa.
Amba said ” Preliminary Investigations showed that it is a case of accidental discharge at a masquerade ceremony in Otuoke and Emeyal area of Ogbia Local Government. The victims are being taking care of by the culprit and the Ogbia people. It may have been a mistake.”
Two couples were also arrested and paraded for armed robbery and gunrunning. A couple supplied the arms while the other couple undertook the robbery.
The Commissioner of Police Bayelsa state CP Asuquo Amba
lamented that there were still fire arms in the hands of individuals
that the Command was still trying to mop up.
Also the command recorded a major feat when it rescued a 3 year old girl
Samantha Pepple who was kidnapped from Prof Harcourt and brought to
Southern Ijaw in Bayelsa state.
The culprit Gods power Ayakpo male 28 years was arrested with the help of
Bayelsa and Rivers state serous crime units.
Amba said” On 29 of October SIB personnel through sustained monitoring
perfected the arrest of two suspected kidnappers namely Daman Kotingo and
Parker Okpo 47 both of Okumbiri town Sagbama.
He said they concluded plans to kidnap one Mrs Lucky Abella mother inlaw
to Hon Nestor Binabor before their arrest adding that Parker is a securuty
guard to Nestor Binabor.
Other suspects paraded were a couple Preye Idan and Divine Preye Udan
who the CP said entered into a boutique shop at Biogbolo Epie and robbed
the owner at a gun point.
Other harvest of arrest included one Daniel Ifiemi 24, Shedrack Timighe
in possession of firearms and Godwin Good news 25, Blessing Manner and
Opportunity Once for robbing Youth Corpers serving in Okoroma Community at
gun point.
Preye Idan 38 years in interview who said he has eleven children said that was his first time of indulging in armed robbery.
He said ” I built a house from Odi compensation money living on my own
but that very day the temptation came”
I have never shot a gun in my life. It is a temptation for me to
involved my wife”. One of the minors by name Brenda 14 who narrated how she was arrested
said she went to Ididie hotel to swim. We were arrested around 7pm. I was
drinking Coke. My parents were not aware that I went to Ididie hotel.
Among the arms recovered by the Police were four locally made revolver
pistol, two pump actions, one 7.62 mm live ammunition, 30 rounds of AAA
cartridge and 20.9mm live ammunition.
Police Commissioner,Asuquo Amba however expressed concern over rising cases of illegal possession of firearms in some parts of Yenagoa with huge haul of firearms recovered from suspects in violent crimes in some parts of the State.
According to him, a total of four locally made Revolver Pistol and two Pump actions with one 7.62mm live ammunition, twenty 9mm live ammunition and 30 rounds of AAA cartridges were recovered between September and October 2017.
“On 28th of 2019, one Yoko Nathan, Male,31 years and others at large came from Azegbene community in Ekeremor Local Government Area to Yenagoa to buy three AK 47 riffles and we’re tracked by detectives. The suspect was arrested at Tombia road while trying to exchange money for guns, while others fled. The suspects confessed that the guns were meant for kidnapping,sea robbery and armed robbery.”
” On 24th of October at about 1am, SARS Patrol team with assistance of the Vigilante group of Otiotio arrested three armed robbers namely Lucky Clement,Male, 25yrs, Samuel Emmanuel, Male,17yrs and Gift Giba, Male,23 yrs,. The suspect attacked and robbed one Henry Etele of Akio Street in Yenizuegene and disposed him of one Nokia Lumia phone.One locally made revolver pistol, two. 9mm Ammunition, One Big cutter, vigilante I’D cards and charms were recovered from the armed robbers.”
