Police arrest 814 kidnap, robbery suspects in Rivers

The Rivers State Police Command has disclosed that it has arrested no fewer than 814 kidnap and robbery suspects from February and April, 2014, in the state. This excludes 11 suspects, who were arrested recently and paraded by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, at the state Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Port Harcourt.
Ogunsakin, while briefing journalists at the SCID office, said over 35 victims were rescued from suspected kidnappers.
According to the state Police boss, the command had recorded a reduction of the incident by about 49 per cent in the last three months, with a total of 31 cases as against 21 cases recorded in January alone.
Also, he said that there were concerted efforts by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in the arrest of armed robbers in the state. “Statistically speaking, a rise in apprehension to the measure of 250 per cent has been recorded with 27 armed robbers apprehended from February 2014, as against only two arrests made in January.”
Giving a further breakdown of the feat achieved within the period under review, the police commissioner said in February, a total of 181 cases were recorded, out of which 257 suspects were arrested. While 98 cases were charged to court alongside 175 suspects; 33 suspects were convicted, 78 were awaiting trial, while 36 were discharged and acquitted.
“In March, a total of 171 cases were recorded of which 213 suspects were arrested. Of these, 99 cases were charged to court alongside 166 suspects, out of which 36 suspects were convicted; 72 are awaiting trial, while 16 were discharged and acquitted.
“In April, a total of 198 cases were recorded of which 344 suspects were arrested. Of this number, 128 cases were charged to court alongside 243 suspects, out which 84 suspects were convicted; 135 are awaiting trial, while 24 were discharged and acquitted.”
Ogunsakin disclosed further that within the period, the command recovered from suspects 1,115 arms and ammunition, vowing that the force would not relent in fighting criminals and criminal activities in the state.
“I want to restate my mission here in Rivers State, which is to make the state uncomfortable for criminals, while upholding the tenet of protecting lives and property. All evil doers within the state should repent or be ready to feel the iron hand of a well-positioned Police command. We will never stop, we will not waiver, we will not go weary and we will never say never in our fight against evil,” Ogunsakin stressed.
Ends.