Police parades 57 suspects as Monarchs sues for peace

The Rivers State Police Command showcased its successes in the first 47 days of the year, parading 57 suspects and recovering nine stolen vehicles, just as two prominent Monarchs in the state sued for peace and unity across the state and country.

Giving statistical breakdown of the Command’s achievements from January to February 16, 2018 to newsmen in Port Harcourt over the weekend, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Zaki M Ahmed revealed that the state Police Command arrested 22 suspected armed robbers; 22 suspected cultists and 12 suspected kidnappers while it recovered nine stolen vehicles, one AK 47 riffle, 22 locally made pistols and 55 live ammunition within the period under review.

CP Ahmed stated that crime rate in the state dropped within the period because of the proactive and concerted efforts adopted by men and officers of the command to fight crime in the state which he observed peaked last year.

“The state witnessed pockets of criminal activities such as killing and beheading among other criminal activities. But to God be the Glory, towards the end of the year, these criminal elements were tackled head long, leading to a steady drop in criminal activities in the state in the last few months,” he stated, adding that he has directed Area Commanders, DPOs and Heads of Tactical Units in the Command to redouble their efforts and embark on massive raids of criminal hideouts and black spots.

Some of the paraded suspects who spoke to our correspondent at the state Police Headquarters, venue of the parade confessed for their crimes. Two of the suspects, who are dismissed soldiers, having served for 15 years in the infantry division of the 22 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, ex-Lance Corporals Sam Ajeduwa, 33 from Borno state and Ibrahim Abubakar, 35 said they got involved in car snatching to support their families while waiting for their discharge allowances from the Army.

When asked if he was aware that the Hilux vehicle he claimed he was asked to deliver in Katsina state was stolen, Ajeduwa replied, “Yes. I know but as I was sacked from my job, I had no option to feed my family than to carry out that task to deliver the Hilux to the Alhaji so that I will get the money for my family.”

While thanking stakeholders and members of the public for their support and cooperation leading to these modest successes so far, the commissioner solicited for more of such partnership to make the state crime free.

In the same vein, two prominent monarchs from the Kalabari ethnic nationality in the state have called for peace and unity across the state, particularly in the kalabari kingdom.

The Monarchs made the appeals over the weekend, when the Regent of Abonnema Town, headquarters of Akuku Toru Local Government Area, High Chief (Dr) O.B.Lulu-Briggs led a delegation of Abonnema council of Chiefs on an official courtesy call on the Amayanabo of Kalabari land, HRM, King (Prof) T.J.T. Princewill, Amachree X1 in Buguma Town, headquarters of Asari Toru Local Government Area, both in Rivers state.

The Amayanabo, King Princewill called for unity among the Kalabaris, especially now that he is the king of the kingdom. He said that what happened in Abonnema does not affect Abonnema alone but the entire Kalabari kingdom and that if Abonnema is in crisis, there would be no way forward for the Kalabari people.
He however urged the Abonnema people to always think about peace and unity and that he was also speaking as an indigene of the ancient Abonnema town.

Earlier in his address, High Chief O. B. Lulu-Briggs, the Regent of Abonnema town commended the Kalabari Monarch for his show of love and solidarity visit after the unfortunate attack on his person last November 25, 2017 in Abonnema. “Let me use this opportunity to also express my gratitude for the high powered delegation you sent. Your Majesty, thank you for being your brother’s keeper,” stated an address read on his behalf by Chief Ibim Iyibo Young Briggs.

No reasons were however given for the conspicuous absence of Alabo Tonye Graham Douglas, former Aviation Minister and Chief (Dr) Patrick Dele Cole, former Editor and Group Managing Director of Daily Times Publications from the delegation of the Regent. Both men are prominent members of the Abonnema Town council of Chiefs.