By Deborah Nnamdi
Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have apprehended a 44-year-old cab driver, Andrew Nwanna, over alleged involvement in robbing female passengers.
The Command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, said that Nwanna used a vehicle with a customized number plate to carry out the acts.
Iringe-Koko stated that before being apprehended, the police had received several complaints concerning the suspects’ attacks on female passengers.
She said that at about 8.00 a.m. On Oct. 4, Nwanna robbed a female passenger near Port Harcourt Primary School in the Old GRA area of the city.
“He took the female passenger along Stadium Road, and while on the trip, he diverted the vehicle to the Old GRA, attacked her, and forcibly collected her two phones.
“Also, at about 3.00p.m on Oct. 10, Nwanna picked up another female passenger at Tombia Extension in GRA Phase 2, en route to Birabi Street in the city.
“During the journey, the suspect stopped the vehicle near Skippers Restaurant, brought out a knife, and threatened to stab the passenger if she raised the alarm.
“He forcibly took her iPhone 13 valued at N850,000, another iPhone 15 worth N1.7 million, a Redmi 120 phone valued at N200,000, and AirPods worth N350,000,” she said.
The police spokesperson said that Nwanna also dispossessed the female passenger of her Access Bank debit card, a Bible, and 200 US dollars cash and left her stranded.
She said that the police swung into action and apprehended Nwanna at Farm Road, Rumuosi, Obio/Apkor, following a report made by one of his victims.
Iringe-Koko said that during the investigation, Nwanna confessed to his crimes and mentioned a 38-year-old man, Garba Adamu, a Bureau de Change operator, as his accomplice.
“We have also apprehended Adamu; he has admitted to purchasing the phones that were stolen from the second victim,” she said.
She said that investigations were still ongoing and that the suspects would be charged in court upon conclusion.
She urged members of the public to exercise vigilance when using taxis or commercial transport services and to quickly report any suspicious behavior to the police.
