By: Felix Ikpotor
The Rivers State Police Command says it has arrested six suspects involved in attacking local vigilante and vandalizing public properties in Port Harcourt.
The Command said the suspects were arrested based on a petition it received on January 9th, 2025 about the disturbing activities of unknown hoodlums attacking local security guards and vandalizing public assets.
The Command said the report suggested that on the 3rd of January, 2025, at about 0300hrs a 1,000KVA transformer worth Fifty-Two Million Naira (₦52,000,000.00) was vandalized and stolen from NNPCL Estate in Rumuokwurushi, Port- Harcourt by unknown hoodlums after tying and robbing the local security guards on duty of their phones and money.
SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the Command’s spokesperson in the statement said; “Acting on this information, Operatives from the C4i Intelligence Unit through coordinated operations, effected the arrest.
She said suspects arrested are Raphael Ngwuebor, ‘m’ aged 52yrs, from Umezeoka Community in Ezza LGA, Ebonyi State, Christopher Nwagwu ‘m’ aged 50yrs from Aboh Mbaise LGA, Imo State who is the end receiver of the stolen transformer, Chimene Wagoha ‘m’ aged 35yrs from Ikwerre, Rivers State who accompanied the driver and lifted the stolen transformer and drove it to the sponsor’s office,
Others are; Chikodi Ogu ‘m’ aged 38yrs from Omuma LGA, Rivers State who assisted the Hiab driver and removed the transformer from the Estate, Obinna Nwankwo ‘m’ aged 43yrs from Omuma LGA, Rivers State was the facilitator and mediator between the robbers and the receiver. He also negotiated the purchase price of the transformer and the sum of Ten Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (#10,500,000.00) was paid into his Bank Account and John Aguarar ‘m’ aged 36yrs from Etche LGA, Rivers State, the sponsor of the illegal transaction who gave out his Hiab to transport the transformer and kept same in his office before finally selling it. The stolen transformer was recovered from the suspects.
Iringe-Koko said during interrogation, the suspects confessed to being part of a syndicate specializing in vandalizing and stealing transformers and electrical installations in Rivers State, adding that the suspects and exhibit are currently in police custody, and investigation is ongoing while efforts are being intensified to apprehend other members of the syndicate.
