The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of one Sergeant Promise Ukwuoma and an employee of Access Bank, Rumuolumeni Branch, Samuel Ndudiri, who allegedly attempted to rob the bank.
The policeman and the bank worker were said to have been apprehended after an investigation by the operatives of the Intelligence Response Team with assistance from the Technical Intelligence Unit of the Nigeria Police.
According to a statement, which was confirmed by the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, the suspects, were arrested at about 11:35am on Friday.
The two suspects were identified as members of a criminal gang.
Some operatives of the command had foiled what would have been a major bank robbery in the state and arrested the three suspects.
The three suspects and others on the run had allegedly brought a gas cylinder to the Access Bank premises in Rumuolumeni and had embark on cutting the main door into the bank, when security operatives stormed the place.
However, some members of the gang, including a police corporal, Gabriel Igwe, of the 19 Police Mobile Force, are currently on the run.
Two AK 47 rifles belonging to the serving policemen were recovered during Friday’s operation.
Ndudiri, the Access Bank employee, was said to have masterminded the attempted robbery of the bank with the assistance of the police sergeant, who is from the Department of Operations, Port Harcourt.
The statement read, “Arrest of a serving police sergeant and bank official involved in a bank robbery and recovery of two AK47 rifles belonging to serving policemen on 23/12/2016 at about 11:35am.
“Sequel to the arrest and handing over of three suspects involved in the Access Bank, Eagle Cement Rumuolumeni branch robbery, to the Intelligence Response Team by the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, for discreet investigation, IRT Operatives immediately commenced investigation and with technical assistance from the Technical Intelligence Unit, two key members of the gang were arrested.
“Sergeant Promise Ukwuoma of DOPS Port Harcourt and Mr. Samuel Ndudiri ‘m’, 38 years, an official of Access Bank, Eagle Cement (Rumuolumeni) branch, who masterminded the robbery, were both arrested in Port Harcourt.
“Exhibits recovered were two AK47 riffles with breach Nos. 523513 / 21173 and two AK47 rifle magazines fully loaded. One Corporal Igwe Gabriel of 19PMF attached to RRT DOPS, now at large, is the owner of the second rifle with S/No. 21173.”
Igwe, according to the statement, left the rifle at his beat and fled when he got information that his gang member, Sergeant Promise Ukwuoma, had been arrested.
The arrested suspects were said to have confessed to the crime even as the police maintained that efforts were in top gear to ensure the arrest of the fleeing members of the gang.
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrest of the police sergeant and the Access Bank worker.
The PPRO, however, insisted that he would not make further comment until he got approval to do so.
“I can confirm to you that the IGP Intelligence Response Team arrested the sergeant and the bank worker, but I cannot say anything further until we get an official approval to do so,” Omoni said.
