Felix Ikpotor
The Rivers State Police Command has busted a one-chance robbery gang operating along the Port-Harcourt- Aba Expressway.
This is even as the Command have arrested three suspected child traffickers in and rescuing a one-year-old baby.
The police said the suspects were arrested on August 25 and September 4, 2024 respectively.
Addressing newsmen while parading the suspects at the Commands Headquarters in Port Harcourt, the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko said the child traffickers were arrested at approximately 6:35 a.m, when operatives from the Ubima Divisional Headquarters in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the State received a distress call and acted on it accordingly.
She also said the one-gang were arrested at Garrison bustop along the Port-Harcourt- Aba Expressway in Port Harcourt.
SP Iringe-Koko, disclosed that mother of the rescued baby, Queen Orlu, 20-year-old, was found lying unconscious in Omeka Farmland at Ucheabuor Community, Ikwerre Local Government of the state with multiple injuries and her intestines protruding from her stomach wound when the police found her.
She explained that investigation by the police revealed that a member of the syndicate identified as Polycarp Uzoma, from Akwa in Ohaji LGA of Imo State, lured the 20-year-old mother into a bush path, where he attacked and left her for dead.
The State Police Image-Maker noted that after attacking the mother and injuring her, the suspect stole her baby and sold it to one Happiness Amadi at the sum of N1.4 million.
Iringe-Koko added that another suspected member of the syndicate, Chinyere Ordu, an auxiliary nurse, brokered the transaction and received a part payment of N800,000, stressing that the three arrested suspects during interrogation confessed to the crime, as the police had recovered the deposited sum of N800,000, including a bicycle as exhibits.
She added that the rescued baby boy had been reunited with his mother who is currently receiving medical treatment at the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.
On the one-chance robbery gang, SP Iringe-Koko said the gang usually leave a single space in their commercial vehicle for their unsuspecting victim, who upon boarding the vehicle, would be threatened and their valuables carted away, leaving them stranded.
She explained further that a Police team on patrol spotted the gang robbing their latest victim around Garrison flyover on September 4, 2024, at approximately 9:00pm and immediately apprehended them.
She said, “The operatives swiftly apprehended the suspects in their operational vehicle, a purple-coloured Volkswagen Golf 3, with registration number RIVERS -ABU 738 LS.
“The suspects are identified as Thaddeus Sunday Ogu, 42, from Orlu Community in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State; Chinagorom Eze, 35, from Ekpiga Community in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State; Favour Yusuf, 30, from Plateau State were taken into custody. “
The police spokesperson explained that one of the suspects identified as Ogu attempted to evade arrest and opened fire on Police operatives and as a result, he sustained bodily injuries and was rushed to the Police Clinic in Port Harcourt, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Iringe-Koko also stated that during interrogation, the gang confessed to the crime and revealed their modus operandi.
“They would create a single passenger space in the front seat, while the gang members occupied the other spaces.
“They would then threaten and dispossess their victims of their valuables, pushing them out of the moving car. The stolen items would be sold to awaiting receivers, with the proceeds shared among the gang members.
“Exhibits recovered from the suspects include:Their operational Volkswagen Golf 3 car; One locally made pistol and One live cartridge, the suspects and exhibits are currently in Police custody as investigations continue.”
Iringe-Koko added, “The suspects and exhibits are in police custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
“This successful operation demonstrates the commitment of the Rivers State Police Command to combating child trafficking and ensuring the safety of vulnerable individuals.”
Meanwhile during cross- examination by journalists, Chinagorom Eze, a one-chance robbery suspect, who admitted to the crime, said that she had been arrested for the same crime in Delta State, and was consequently sentenced.
She said, “We did not use gun to operate, I have been doing this job for two years I have not used gun.
“How we operate is that there will be three passengers behind the car and one person in front so we wait for one unsuspecting passenger and when the person enters, one of them will feign distress to distract the passenger while he’s distracted, the rest will pick the passenger’s valuables and zoom off.”
