By: Felix Ikpotor
The Ports Authority Police, Eastern Ports Command has arrested some persons allegedly involved in port vandalism, theft, criminal diversion of sugar belonging to Bua Foods and other crimes within the Eastern Port.
This is even as the Command has assured all ports users within the Command of adequate security for them to carryout their lawful businesses.
Acting Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Anjugeuri Manzah gave the assurance onbehalf the Commissioner, CP Jimoh Moshood during a media briefing and parade of some suspects at the Dockyard in Port Harcourt.
Manzah, noted that although crime is generally low within the Port, but said the Command made alot of successes in crime fighting
within a short period, by arresting and prosecuting several suspects for different offenses ranging from diversion of goods, wheat, sugar, flour, etc worth millions of Naira.
The acting PPRO said some suspects have also been arrested and prosecuted for attempts in cutting aprons under the berths and stealing in Rivers Port, saying that thirteen of the suspects are currently in the Correctional Services Custody while their prosecution is ongoing.
Detailing some of the arrests and recoveries made so far, SP Manzah said, “On 1st October, 2024 at about 0350hrs acting on actionable intelligence, Police operatives attached to the Rivers Ports Police Division swooped on a location within Rivers Port where a truck load of sugar belonging BUA Terminal was diverted and sugar being re-bagged into different bags and four suspects Nicholas Ibe, 49 years old, Ibrahim Musa, 26 years old, Austine Ameibe, 43 years old and Prince Titus, 24 years old were arrested in the act”.
He said a total of One Hundred and Eighteen (118) bags of sugar were recovered from the suspects, adding that all the suspects have confessed to the crime while efforts are being intensified to arrest other suspects at large.
Manzah however, said the bags of sugar have been released on bond to the BUA Group because they are perishable goods while assuring that all suspects involved in the crime will be charged to court on completion of investigation.
The Eastern Port Police Image-Maker also disclosed that men of the command arrested one Dikio Okomba, a suspected notorious vandal and currently being remanded at the Correctional Center while his prosecution is ongoing.
He highlighted other achievements of the Command to include foiling terminal vandalism attempts, recovery of drifting boat and listed items recovered from the suspected criminal to include five wooden boats, gas cylinders, cutters, saw blades, hammers, and other equipments.
Manzah assured the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority and other operators within the Eastern Port corridor of riding the area of all forms of crime while enhancing smooth business activities in the area.
“I want to reiterate that the Command will intensified the hunt for the fleeing suspects until they and their gangs are arrested and brought to justice.
“The Commissioner of Police Eastern Ports Police Command wishes to assure all port users that the Command is dedicated to providing a safe environment for the NPA Management and staff, ports facilities, port users and other critical stakeholders to carryout their day to day business and other activities peacefully”.
He used the opportunity to commend the harmonious working relationship between the command, NPA management, host community, sister security agencies and other stakeholders within the Port.
Meanwhile, on cross examination by journalists, one of the suspects, Austine Ameibe, who is a record keeper at the port admitted to aiding the diversion of the truck load of sugar by issuing them clearance at the port, but however said it was done out of ignorance.
