Four Arrested for Killing Police Inspector and Civilian in Rivers State

The Police Command in Rivers State has arrested four people for their suspected roles in the deaths of a police inspector and a civilian.

Blessing Agabe, the command’s spokesperson, shared this information during a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

Ms Agabe, who is an assistant superintendent of police, reported that the police inspector, Womoma, was killed on 4 August while on duty at a checkpoint on the East-West Road, close to Elele Alimini Junction in Ikwerre Local Government Area.

She also connected the arrested suspects to the murder of Joseph Onyeka, who was shot in Rumuji Community on 23 July.

The arrests happened after the police got reliable information about the gang's activities. "Following credible intelligence on 4 October at about 4 p.m., the commander of the Violent Crime Response Unit led a team of police officers to confront the criminal gang," she explained.

The police faced the gang involved in robbery and kidnapping, resulting in the capture of four suspects in Rumuekpe Community, Emohua Local Government Area, according to Ms Agabe.

During the operation, the police recovered multiple firearms and ammunition. Ms Agabe said early investigations connected the suspects to armed robbery and kidnapping incidents in Choba, Elele Alimini, Emohua, and Rumuekpe communities.

"During interrogation, they confessed to the robbery and murder of Onyeka on 23 July in Rumuji Community and the shooting of Insp Womoma while on checkpoint duty on 4 August," she stated.

The police seized two AK-47 rifles, two pump-action rifles, an English-made double-barrel rifle, a locally made revolver pistol, and 58 rounds of live ammunition from the suspects.

She mentioned that efforts are still ongoing to catch other members of the gang who are on the run. The police spokesperson also revealed that the Commissioner of Police in Rivers, Olugbenga Adepoju, has instructed personnel to increase raids and focused operations against criminals.

Ms Agabe said Mr Adepoju praised the officers for their bravery and professionalism in fighting crime in the state. "The commissioner of police has assured residents that the command will keep up intelligence-led operations and investigations to break down criminal networks," she added.

She encouraged community members to report any suspicious activities quickly and assured them that their information would be kept confidential.