By Amos Okioma
The onslaught against criminals by the Police in Bayelsa Command is yielding positive results.
Targeted, “Stop and Search” operations on motorists, tricycles and frisk searches on suspected persons as a crime prevention strategy, has assisted the Task Force on mopping up of illegal arms in recovering several arms and ammunition.
This was contained in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Asinim Butswat, in Yenagoa.
According to the statement, “On March 14, 2018, at about 1350 hours, two unknown gunmen armed with a locally made pistol went to Elohim Food Mart, at Swali Road, Yenagoa and robbed one Elo Baribefe `f` of the following items; one Itel Phone, one Infinix Phone, one Vivo Phone and cash sum of N327.000.
“The CCTV Camera in the premises captured the suspects. Further investigation led to the arrest of the suspects namely; one Elayo Youngosi `m` 24 years of Oil Mill Road, Ovom, one Sarah Alex `f` 19 years of PDP Road, Yenezue-gene and one Collins Nathaniel `m` 25 years who was earlier arrested by Men of Operation Doo-Akpo for cult-related offence.
“Shop owners are advised to mount CCTV cameras in their premises to assist Police in investigation.
“The suspects will soon be charged to court.
“Also on March 14, 2018, at about 0300 hours, operatives from Operation Doo-Akpo, were alerted on the hideout of criminals who were on the wanted list of Police for several heinous crimes.
“Consequently, the operatives swung into action and raided Benvis Hotel, at Opolo where the criminals were hiding. In a bid to escape one of the suspects, Job Nathaniel `m` 29 years, jumped from the roof of the hotel, sustained a fatal injury and later died in the hospital, his cohorts, one Wisdom Holly `m` 19 years, one Ovie Solomon `m` 25 years, one Goodnews Blessing `f` 18 years and one Miracle Marcus`f` 20 years were arrested. The suspects led police to their girlfriends house few meters away from the hotel, where police recovered a locally made revolver pistol with one live cartridge.
“Consequently, on March 15, 2018 at about 1300hrs Police at Julius Berger Pin down flagged down a tricycle with REG No. HKW 704 QC and searched the occupants namely; one Julius Konyefa ‘m’ 41 years, a native of Aghoro community in Ekeremor council, but residing in Azikoro village; one Apuam Ikegima ‘m’ 36 years, of Epebu community in Ogbia LGA, but reisiding in Amarata, Yenagoa, one Paul Raphael ‘m’ 36 years of Brass, in Brass LGA, but residing in Azikoro village, Yenagoa, and the driver of the tricycle one Shuibu Japebu `m` 45 years.
“A Beretta Pistol without Breech number and magazine and two plastic coca cola bottles wrapped in a black cellophane bag were recovered from the tricycle. The suspects are undergoing thorough interrogation.”
