Rivers killings: Police arrest principal suspect of Omoku killings Okotubo

The Nigeria Police has arrested one of the principal suspects of the notorious kidnap for ransom gang that killed over 20 people in Omoku communities in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State in the early hours of new year day, 1st January 2018.

The suspect ,one Desmond Okotubo, 32yrs, a native of Egbenma from Unelga LGA Rivers State was picked by the police in Mpape a suburb of Abuja on 9 January 2018.

A statement in Abuja on Thursday by the Force Spokesman CSP Jimoh Moshood said Okotubo had confessed he took part in the gruesome murder of innocent people with the late cult syndicate leader Don Wanny on 1st January, 2018.

The IGP-Intelligence Response Team working on an actionable intelligence identified Desmond Okotubo who escaped on the 3rdJanuary, 2018 to Abuja after a shoot out with the Police Team in a location in Imo State, he was trailed to Mpape in Abuja where he was arrested after serious resistance on the 9thJanuary, 2018.

According to the police account :” The police response team attached to the Joint Police Special Investigation Team (had) engaged some of the suspects in their hideouts in Awara Forest boundary between Imo and Rivers State in a shoot out that lasted for several hours resulting in the death of six of the suspects.

” While others escaped with bullet wound injury to other locations in Rivers, Delta, Imo and Bayelsa States even as the Police teams embarked on their trail.”

Okotubo had “confessed to be one of the masterminds of the gang and actively participated in the killings of innocent people in Omoku Rivers state on the New Year day.

He further gave details of how they planned the Operation in Awara Town Imo State before they carried out the act.

Okotubo also revealed to the Police how their Gang leader Don Wanny gathered them and briefed them on the night of 31st January, 2017 on the mission to attack and kill the residents of Omoku town. Thirty (30) of them Armed with over Twenty (20) AK47 Rifles crossed the river from Awara to Omoku forest and proceeded to Omoku town and opened fire on innocent Citizens celebrating the new year.

Investigation is being intensified to arrest other members of the gang still at large to get to the root of the matter. The suspect will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.

Andrew Orolua, Abuja.