Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the killing of six notorious criminals who have been terrorizing Orashi region of the state.
Briefing newsmen at command Headquarters at Moscow road Port Harcourt, the command Public Relations Officer, DSP Nnamdi Omoni said a crack team of Special MOPOL Squad in swift response to a distress call shot dead the criminals around Ihuike community in Ahoada axis of East-West Road.
Omoni said the criminals had opened fire on sighting the police who were on a mission to rescue passengers of an 18-seater commercial bus traveling from Benin to Port Harcourt, which was attacked by the same hoodlums.
Omoni confirmed that three passengers in the attacked bus died, while others sustained various degrees of injuries after the driver lost control.
He said items recovered from the robbers who have been responsible for the killings, robbery and kidnapping activities in the areas includes, AK47 rifles , thirty round of 7.62mm ammunition, one Takarev pistol and one Brownie pistol.
According to him, “The Rivers State Police Command in its sustained efforts to rid the state of all manner of crime and criminality today recorded yet another significant breakthrough in crime fighting. This was practically demonstrated when last night about 8.40pm, there was a distress call about an Armed Robbery attack at Ihuike axis of the East/West Road in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“In a swift response, the Ahoada Division led by the DPO immediately mobilized to the scene and the armed robbers on sighting the Police Patrol Van, opened fire on the Police. While an 18 Seater Bus heading from Benin to Port Harcourt was under attack, the driver lost control and the car somersaulted, while 3 persons were feared dead. The rest passengers were rescued. In the ensuing gun battle, the police over powered the armed robbers, six of the armed robbers were fatally wounded and died on their way to the hospital.
“The robbers are the notorious gang of armed robbers/kidnappers who have been terrorizing the East/West Road. The leader of the gang is one General Igbudu, who is suspected to be responsible for all the killings in Ahoada community and the kidnapping of fourteen (14) passengers from Omoku to Port Harcourt, three weeks ago and had earlier been declared wanted by the Police.
“The injured accident victims are receiving treatment in the hospital. Investigation has been ordered. The Ahoada community is agog as they celebrate the end of an orgy of violence in their area. They are happier for it. As the community will now know peace.
“The Commissioner of Police Rivers State, CP Francis Mobolaji Odesanya, wishes to assure the good people of the state to go about their lawful businesses as there is no cause for alarm. The Police is on top of our game and promises to even do better when the synergy between the Police and the public is made more robust. Urging the public to have confidence in the police and always share information with the Police.”
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