Metro

Rivers Police Arrest Man Wanted By EFCC For Four Years

Published

2 years ago

January 21, 2024

Editor

Men of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested a suspect, Joel Okodi, who has been on the run after being declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission years ago.

Okodi, popularly known as ‘Chief’, was a resident at No.21, Abak Road Ikot-Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.

It was gathered that he allegedly fraudulently collected the sum of N50 million from one Chief Okosisi and was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after the case was reported.

While the fraud case was being investigated, he persuaded another victim, Mr Ochulor Okeokwu, to stand as surety in the case.

To secure the suspect’s release, Mr Okeokwu unsuspectingly tendered his house documents worth N50 million as collateral at the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the EFCC.

However, the suspect refused to turn up for investigations at the EFCC office and was nowhere to be found, even as he was evading several telephone calls.

The Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the arrest to newsmen in a statement in Port Harcourt on Sunday, said on the few occasions the suspect was reached by telephone, he violently threatened Mr. Okeokwu to stop calling him.

Iringe-Koko said Mr Okeokwu then proceeded to send a petition to the Inspector General of Police, who approved and forwarded it to the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, who immediately mandated men of Operation Sting to ensure that the suspect was arrested.

The statement read, “The operatives of the Rivers State Police Command then proceeded to carry out thorough Investigation and diligent finding to ascertain the location of the suspect as somewhere in Ajegunle Apapa in Lagos where he had been in hiding all these years.

“The operatives then submitted relevant policing documents, mobilised, and went to Lagos to carry out the arrest on 18/1/2024 at about 2034hrs at Ajegunle in Lagos.”

While noting that the coordinated efforts that led to the arrest are a testament that there is no hiding place for criminals, Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police said, “The case is currently being handled by the EFCC”.

According to her, the State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, urged members of the public to be mindful of people they want to stand surety for, adding that the command under his watch will make the state too hot for criminal elements.

Metro

Fire Guts Section Of Rivers Secretariat

Published

11 hours ago

October 6, 2025

Editor

A section of the Rivers State Secretariat was on Monday evening gutted by fire, leaving parts of the complex damaged before it was brought under control.

The fire, which reportedly started a few minutes past 5 p.m., was contained through the swift response of the Rivers State Fire Service.

Eyewitnesses said the blaze spread rapidly before firefighters arrived at the scene to extinguish it, preventing further damage to nearby offices.

Although the cause of the fire has not been officially confirmed, preliminary reports suggest that an electrical fault may have triggered the incident.

The Rivers State Head of Service, Inyingi Brown, also attributed the outbreak to an electrical fault, urging workers to ensure that all electrical appliances are switched off before leaving the office.

An unconfirmed source indicated that the fire may have affected the state Pension Commission, though the extent of the damage remains unclear.

Authorities are yet to release an official statement on the full impact of the incident as investigations continue.

Metro

18-year-old Hangs Self, Police Launch Investigation

Published

1 day ago

October 5, 2025

Editor

The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the death of an 18-year-old identified as Tersoo Veregh, who allegedly took his own life in Makurdi, the state capital.

According to Zagazola Makama, the deceased’s father, Mr. Veregh Nathaniel, of Iorkyaako Street, High Level area of Makurdi, made the tragic discovery around 2:00 a.m. on October 4, when he stepped out of his room to ease himself and found his son hanging from the ceiling.

Following the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of ‘B’ Division, Makurdi, led a team of detectives to the scene. The body was photographed and later taken to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital mortuary.

Police authorities said an investigation has commenced to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Metro

Police Intercept Illicit Drugs, Recover Pistols In Delta

Published

1 day ago

October 5, 2025

Editor

The Delta State Police Command has intercepted a truck loaded with large quantities of suspected illicit drugs.

The truck, with registration number 3BGT 18LG, driven by one Dennis Uruma, a 52-year-old man from Igalamela Local Government Area of Kogi State, was intercepted by a patrol team of the Eagle Net Special Squad, Asaba, led by Commander SP Danyaya Yunusa.

The operation was conducted in synergy with the Office of the Executive Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Illicit Drugs and Human Trafficking.

The driver was arrested after the search, while the counting and measurement of the exhibits are ongoing.

In another development, on October 3, 2025, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, led by Commander CSP Nosa Alex, acting on credible intelligence, conducted a targeted raid on a suspected criminal hideout around the Basket Market area of Asaba.

During the operation, three suspects, Rabbi Godwin, 25, Lucky Nanakumo, 20, and David Igwe, 19, were arrested.

A search of the location yielded one fabricated Beretta pistol, which was recovered and secured as evidence.

Again, on October 1, 2025, the DPO ‘B’ Division, Asaba, CSP Edewor Akponegware, led his surveillance team in a swift response to a distress report about a robbery incident around the BONSAAC axis of Asaba, where a female victim was dispossessed of her phone and other valuables at gunpoint by two male suspects.

Working with local vigilantes, the team established a discreet cordon and began a methodical sweep of adjoining streets.

The coordinated push paid off when officers intercepted one suspect, Amara Nwako, 21, a male indigene of Oko, while his accomplice fled into an uncompleted building.

A locally made pistol was recovered during a search of the immediate vicinity. Preliminary findings revealed a possible cult affiliation linking the suspect to a certain Arobaga secret cult.

According to Bright Edafe, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, all the suspects remain in custody, while a manhunt is underway for the fleeing accomplice.

(DAILY POST)