The Rivers State Police Command says officers of the Bori Divisional Police Headquarters led by the DPO, in a coordinated Operation, have raided a criminal hideout and killed a 35-year-old Linus Lebari, AKA ‘BOBBY’ also known as “DEVIL” from Teka Sogho in Khana Local government Area of the State.
The public relations officer of the command, Nnamdi Omoni, said the police team trailed the dreaded criminal to their hideout in a forest at Okwale, a boundary between Rivers and Abia State.
He explained that the hoodlums on noticing irregular movements around their camp, started shooting randomly but in a return fire from the Police, one of them was fatally wounded, who was later identified to be Linus Lebari from Teka Sogho.
The police spokesman said Lebari, is the leader of the kidnapping Gang responsible for all the attacks on the Ogoni axis of the East/West Road and whose gang has killed over 30 people in the two Local Government Areas of Khana and Gokana, after collecting ransom.
“In the wake of the Operation, two Police Officers sustained gunshot wounds and are currently responding to treatment while one locally made Pistol and some Cartridges were recovered.
” Efforts are on to arrest other gang members who fled with gunshot wounds.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Mustapha Dandaura is again assuring the public that the onslaught against arms banditry in the State is raging and will not cease until all criminal elements in the State are history, while appealing for cooperation, by sharing credible information that will lead to the arrest of these criminals. Via the following security numbers: 08032003514 08028915462.” he said.