The Rivers State Police Command says it has identified the prime suspect who detonated a dynamite near the Hotel Presidential adjacent to Aba Road in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on June 25, 2024.
The command named the suspect as 40-year-old Preye Josiah, from Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, saying he will be charged in court soon.
The spokesman for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday and sent to newsmen.
Iringe-Koko, also said the suspect has been on the police’s wanted list for his involvement in a series of bank robberies in Bayelsa State, adding that he is a member of a dreaded cult group called the Vikings
The suspect was severely injured with one of his hands chopped off after he detonated the dynamite during a protest in support of the occupation of the 23 LG secretariats of the state.
The incident followed the amendment of the State LG law by the Martin Amaewhule-led State House of Assembly which extended their tenure by six months due to the alleged failure of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to conduct the Local Government elections.
The police, however, revealed that the suspect’s health has improved significantly after undergoing three major operations.
The statement reads, “Regarding the previous explosion that occurred along the Port Harcourt – Aba Expressway on June 25, 2024, the arrested suspect who sustained serious bodily injuries and has since been undergoing treatment, has been identified as Preye Josiah, alias Metusah, aged 40 years and a native of Kabiama Community of Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa State.
“Investigations revealed that Preye Josiah has been on the police’s wanted list for participating in some high-profile bank robberies led by one Daniel Gogo, alias Full Payment, between 2012 and 2016, where three AK-47 rifles, a Lar rifle, 360 rounds of live ammunition, 20 magazines, five dynamites, two pistols, among others were recovered by the police.
“Preye, who was evasive to police arrest, was identified as the dynamite detonating expert of the gang.
“The suspect had also informed operatives of the command that the explosion was a result of dynamite. He is a member of the Vikings Confraternity. Efforts are still ongoing to arrest others involved in the crime.
“Preye, who has undergone three major surgeries and has made a significant recovery, will soon be charged to a court of competent jurisdiction after the investigations are completed,” the statement added.
Iringe-Koko said the state Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, urged members of the public to be “vigilant when such cases of explosion occur and to steer clear of the vicinity, as there is a tendency of another device being present,” noting that they should call the police on dedicated lines already in the public domain in the event of any explosion for prompt
action.
In a related development, the state PPRO said the command had intensified its investigation into the explosion that rocked the Secretariat of the Action Peoples Party in the new GRA axis of Port Harcourt on August 12, 2024.
Police arrest suspected armed robber in Abuja
Also, operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command have arrested an armed robbery suspect on Saturday.
The arrest happened as a result of an investigation launched by the report of a Toyota Corolla vehicle snatched at gunpoint on May 2, 2024.
This was contained in a statement signed by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Josephine Adeh, on Sunday.
She said the command began an investigation with the aid of digital reconstruction intelligence, and the operatives of the command tracked the vehicle to one Micheal Luke at Ifego Guest Inn at Jabi.
The suspect had replaced the registration number on the car with another, reading Reg No: AGD 146 JP.
The statement reads, “The operatives of the FCT Police Command on 17th August 2024, at about 12:00 p.m., in a swift response to a Toyota Corolla vehicle with REG NO: ABC 258 LD, reportedly snatched at gunpoint on 2nd May 2024, along Kuje-airport road, and the same vehicle being sighted.
“With the aid of digital reconstruction intelligence, the operatives of the command tracked the vehicle to one Ifego Guest Inn at Jabi, in the possession of one Micheal Luke.
“The suspect had replaced the registration number on the vehicle with another, reading REG NO: AGD 146 JP. During the search, one (1) POS machine, one (1) knife, glass dissolving chemicals, one (1) military jungle hat, and the original REG NO of the vehicle were discovered in his possession.”
Adeh revealed that the investigation was ongoing, and the FCT Police Commissioner, Benneth Igweh, has urged FCT residents to report any suspicious activities to the police.
It added, “Investigation is still ongoing, the commissioner of police FCT, Benneth Igweh, reiterates the command’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the lives and properties of residents of the FCT.
“He further encourages residents of the FCT to report any suspicious activities to the police emergency lines: 08032003913, 08028940883, 08061581938, and 07057337653 PCB: 09022222352, CRU: 08107314192.”
