By Deborah Nnamdi, Port Harcourt
NIGERIA: The Rivers State Police Command has busted a five-man gang car-snatching syndicate that had been terrorizing Port Harcourt and its environs.
Operatives of the command gunned down the alleged ringleader, Chukwumela Imela (AKA Satan Boy), and arrested other members of the criminal gang also gunned down the kingpin.
The state Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, while parading the suspects before newsmen at the Command Headquarters on Tuesday, said before their arrest, the terrorized residents of Ada-George, Iwofe, Ogbogoro, Egbelu, Diobu, D-line, GRA II, and Borikiri, snatching over 10 cars at gunpoint in the last three months.
CP Disu stated that the kingpin, alongside another suspect, was fatally wounded after they opened fire on operatives of the Octopus Strike Force in a bid to evade arrest, adding that one Beretta pistol and two locally-made revolvers were recovered from the criminals.
He further disclosed that his officers on September 13, 2024, rescued a 16-year-old girl from her abductor and arrested the suspect, identified as Prince Amadi Ogbonda.
He said the arrest of Ogbonda followed a tip-off received by the police at around 10 am on the said day about a suspicious individual with a young girl in the Abuloma area of Port Harcourt.
The 24-year-old Ogbonda is a native of Elekahia Community in Port Harcourt Local Government Area of the State but residing in Akwuke, Enugu State.
Disu explained that preliminary investigations revealed that Ogbonda lured the victim from Enugu State, concealed her in a Ghana-Must-Go-bag, and transported her to Port Harcourt. Upon arrival, he took her to the residence of Chima, an internet fraudster in Ozuoboko, where she was repeatedly assaulted by Chima and another suspect.
He stated that the rescued victim had been taken for medical examination and treatment, while Ogbonda remained in police custody.
