The Nigeria Police Force, Bayelsa state command said it has apprehended 12 per sons who were suspected to be armed robbers.
The command also said it has recovered 18 firearms and twenty bags of weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp.
Briefing newsmen at the state police headquarters in Yenagoa, the Commissioner of Police, Nkereuwem Akpan, said the suspects were arrested while conducting intelligence-driven raids on criminal flashpoints during the Covid-19 lockdown.
CP Akpan further said, “On 9th Ma, 2020, one Ebi Collins, Emmanuel Benson and Monday Nweke all male were arrested while robbing one Peter Ebikabowei at a POS stand opposite the Yenagoa Council Secretary.
“A police officer who has at the scene to withdraw mone suspected their movement and alertedpassers-by, who assisted in arresting the suspects. The sum of N222,000, two locally-made pistols, and two expended cartridge were recovered from the suspects.
“On 26 April 2020, one Mrs. Eyi Timinepre, a female from Tungbabiri Community in Sagbama LGA was robbed of the sum of N550,000, two Tecno phones valued at N84,000 in her apartment at gunpoint by one Peremobowei Eyitimbia, 33 years, Johnson Etete, 22 years, and Prosper Awara, 20 years.
“The said suspects were arrested and the sum of N160,000 and one Tecno phone was recovered from Peremobowei Eyitimbia. The investigation is ongoing. On 5th May 2020, the vigilante men along INEC street, Kpansia, suspected one Dominic Kingsley, searcher him and recovered one locally made pistol. He confessed to being a member of the Bobos cult group.
“On 22nd May 2020, Safer Highway patrol team along the East-West road by Zarama stopped a Toyota Sequoia Jeep for a search, however, the driver who wore a military uniform zoomed off. The team pursued the vehicle to the Glory Land drive axis of the East-West road where the driver abandoned the vehicle and ran away.
“Upon search of the vehicle the team discovered twenty bags loaded with weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp. Efforts have been intensified to identify the owner of the vehicle and arrest the suspect. On 15 May 2020, one Lucky Eniokon, 21 years, David Samuel, 22 years, and Gift, members of a three-man robbery gang entered a tricycle and threatened the driver to take them to INEC road.
“Consequently, the armed robbers came out from the tricycle and started robbing costumers and pedestrians at a POS stand. The tricycle zoomed off and alerted policemen who arrived at the scene and exchanged gunfire with the armed robbers. Two of the armed robbers escaped with bullet wounds, while Lucky Eniokon was shot at the left knee and arrested. A locally-made pistol and three cartridges were recovered from him.”
