Police Smashed A Kidnap Gang In Rivers State

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command has smashed a notorious kidnap gang operating in Port Harcourt and its environs.

Members of the gang were arrested at their various hideouts in Okrika town, Okrika LGA and Abuloma in Port Harcourt, including their leader, one Mitchell Tamuno, described by the police as a kidnap kingpin.

 It was gathered that the suspects were responsible for the abduction of one Miss Charity Ikirigo, a 14-year-old student, on April 18, 2016.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Muhammad, said on Friday that the arrest of the suspects was made possible by useful information at the disposal of the State Police Command.

Muhammad, who stated that Miss Ikirigo had since been rescued by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, explained that Tamuno and his gang members were apprehended in Okrika town.

“On April 27, 2016 at about 0400 hours in Okrika town, one Mitchell Tamuno of Abam in Okirika Local Government Area, who is a kidnapping kingpin and other five members of his gang, were arrested.

 “Their arrest  came on the heels of an actionable information and they (suspects) have confessed to be the gang responsible for the kidnapping  of one Miss Charity Ikirigo (female) 14 years old, a student of Federal Government College, Abuloma, on 18/04 /2016 and was rescued by Anti-Kidnapping Squad.

“Two AK 47 rifles and 170 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from them. Suspects also confessed to being behind several kidnappings in Abuloma and Okirika,” Muhammad said.

The state police spokesman also disclosed that one Iyalla Appollos was arrested in his hideout at about 5am on Thursday at Azuboko Ama in Port Harcourt.

Appollos, according to the state police spokesman, was a dangerous kidnapper leading a seven-man kidnapping syndicate that operates around Abuloma and its environs.

Muhammad said the suspect was arrested on the basis of confession of another kidnap kingpin currently in detention.

He disclosed that two AK 47 rifles, 170 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition and four magazines were recovered from Appollos.

He added that the police command has spread its dragnet to ensure that other fleeing members of Appollos gangs were apprehended and brought to justice.