- Lagos command arrests 20 erring officers
Three persons were on Thursday arraigned before a Magistrates’ Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for allegedly killing ten persons, including nine police officers.
The suspects were alleged to have shot and killed the policemen and the other person during various bank robbery operations in different parts of the state.
The Accused persons, including 29-year-old Godgift Gwenbe, Odum Atokaritou (35), and Napughi Duba (29), were arraigned on 18-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping and murder.
Some of the victims of the suspects were identified as Spy ASP Bamidele Mohammed, attached to Sterling Bank, Port Harcourt; Inspector Austine Moore and Corporal Prince Tigbara, both attached to the Elekahia Police Station, Port Harcourt, until their death as well as Inspector Jonah Oletu.
Others alleged to have been killed by the suspects are Inspector Pet Olavoghokere, Corporal Paul Nnaa, Inspector Dennis Akpan, Sergeant Ekwere Epoulo, Corporal Okougor Nyambi, all attached to Olu-Obasanjo Police Station and Sterling Bank Regional Manager, Mr. Femi Oloukun.
The suspects were also accused of kidnapping one Nkechi Chika, the Director of Pre-Pay Hotel, Eagle Island, who was had to pay N10million ransom to regain her freedom.
Duba, Atokaritou and Gwenbe in company with others currently at large, attacked and robbed a bullion van conveying the sum of $400,000, property of Sterling Bank, Port Harcourt.
The suspects were also said to have been involved in the robbing of Diamond Bank, Trans-Amadi Branch in Port Harcourt.
The magistrate adjourned the matter till November 28, 2016 and remanded all the accused persons in prison.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command has arrested 20 policemen for various offences ranging from extortion to other acts of professional misconduct.
Eight other suspects were also arrested for armed robbery, kidnapping, murder and rape. Among the suspects paraded by the police was an accomplice in the murder of a bureau de change operator in the Ajah area of Lagos.
Owoseni said that the arrest of the policemen followed the directives of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to sanitise the force and weed out bad eggs.
