The Rivers State Police Command has arrested 10 suspected kidnappers during a raid of a criminal hideout behind the Adokiye-Amiesimaka Stadium at Igwuruta, Ikwerre local Government Area of the state where kidnappers terrorizing Obiri-Ikwerre-Airport Road were said to be camped.
During the raid more than 12 make shift tents in camps abandoned by suspected kidnappers were also destroyed.
The operation was led by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Tunji Disu.
He was accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Adepoju Olugbenga, some area commanders, heads of tactical units, divisional police officers, and other officers of the command.
Speaking to journalists after the exercise, the Deputy Commissioner of Police inchgarge of operations, Adepoju Olugbenga on behalf of the CP said it is a routine exercise were operatives of the command go to vulnerable places where hoodlums are disturbing to sanitize ther area.
He assured that the Rivers State Police Command will continue to comb the place and other places criminals are hibernating to ensure people of the state sleep with their two eyes closed
DCP Adepoju noted that there is a special concentration on the airport axis because of its importance to the state and the Police cannot allow criminal activities thrive there or any other part of the state.
He equally called on the public to assist the Police with useful information that can lead to identification and dislodging of criminal hideout.
He said, “It is a routine exercise. We normally go on a show of strength once or twice weekly and we mostly patrol vulnerable points where we feel we are having issues with hoodlums trying to disturb the peace of the state.
“You would have observed that within these few days, there have been issues of hoodlums trying to waylay people going to the airport. We have deployed a lot of operatives in that axis and as part of our routine as directed by the Commissioner of Police to ensure that the state is free of crime and criminality, we have to move in there.
“So, we combed the area with the Commissioner of Police in the early hours of this morning (Saturday) and we have arrested some people who were hibernating in that area, about 10 of them. We equally have some camps where they have shanties with people resting; many of them have left the place.”
It would be recalled that last week, gunmen kidnapped some passengers along the area and due to intensive pressure and the massive deployment of police presence in the area, the victims were released.
