TheCable

The Rivers state police command has alerted the public that suspected armed robbers have devised a means to perfect their craft.

Parading suspects in the state on Monday, Ahmad Muhammad, the state police spokesman,revealed that suspects now conceal guns in large loaves of bread in order to escape security check-points.

Muhammad assured residents of their safety, saying the police have beefed up security ahead of the festive season.

He explained how members of different gangs were nabbed.

“At Arazona off Peter Odili Road, Port Harcourt, a team of policemen acting on a distress call that one Mr. Emmanuel Akujobi was kidnapped by armed men operating in a Volkswagen Golf 3 saloon car,” he told journalists.

“The team chased the suspected kidnappers thereby forcing them to abandon the victim, their operational vehicle and the victim’s Lexus Jeep registration No. ABJ 724 BC.

“One of the suspected kidnappers also got fatally wounded during shoot out with policemen. This effort has no doubt confirmed that our response time to distress calls has greatly improved.

“Policemen on routine patrol along Ada George road, Port Harcourt, sighted a suspicious black Honda Civic with registration No. AHD 145 RX with three young male occupants and on approaching the vehicle the occupants opened fire on the policemen.

“Three of them got fatally wounded after a gun duel with the policemen while one AK 47 rifle, two magazines, 50 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition, a complete set of police uniform and a police bullet proof vest were recovered.

“In a similar vein, the command smashed a gang of armed robbers who specialised in trailing unsuspecting bank customers and rob them off their hard earned money soon after money withdrawal either through Automated Teller Machine (ATM) or from the banking hall.

“These achievements are largely predicated to the tremendous support the command is enjoying from the security conscious and patriotic citizens by way of volunteering timely, credible and actionable information.”