The suspected armed bandits were intercepted during a stop-and-search operation along the road.

Six suspected bandits have been arrested by men of the Rivers State Police Command along the Elele-Owerri Road in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of the State.

Spokesperson of the command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, said the suspected armed bandits were intercepted during a ‘stop and search’ operation along the road.

The PPRO gave the names of the suspects as Boniface Owoicho “M” Age 55 years, Momo Junior “M” Age 27 years, Mudi Moses “M” Age 25 years; Ibrahim John “M” Age 35 years; Abdul Faruk “M” Age 23 years and Nuhu Imadi “M”, all of Kogi State origin.

Iringe-Koko said items recovered from the suspects were five arms, including three English-made single barrels and two English-made automatic revolver barrels, as well as 20 ‘AA’ live cartridges.

Other items recovered from the suspects to include; four police belts, five knives, two military cardigans, three operational boats, one Civil Defence operation hat and two long-sleeved singlets engraved with Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Services (NHFSS).

Also recovered were four face caps, two woven caps, ten GSM handsets, five ID cards, two touch lights, a bag containing chaplets, rings, beads, anointing oil, one Civil Defence operation trousers, and one Muslim neck pullover.

"Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command on Thursday, 26th January 2023, at about 1140hrs on stop and search duty along Elele Owerri Road intercepted a Toyota Sienna with Reg. No. KNE 194 AJ with six occupants namely: (1) Boniface Owoicho “M” Driver Age 55yrs, (2), Momo Junior “M” Age 27yrs, (3), Mudi Moses “M” Age 25yrs, (4), Ibrahim John “M” Age 35yrs, (5) Abdul Faruk “M” Age 23yrs and (6) Nuhu Imadi “M” all of Kogi State," the statement reads in part.

“Following a thorough search conducted in the vehicle, the police team recovered five arms, (Three English-made single barrels and two English-made automatic revolver barrels), and twenty AA live cartridges.

“Also recovered were four police belts, five knives, two military cardigans, three operational boats, one Civil Defence operation hat, two long-sleeved singlets engraved with Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Services (NHFSS), four face caps, two woven caps, ten GSM handsets, five ID cards, two touch lights, a bag containing chaplets, rings, beads, anointing oil, one Civil Defence operation trousers, and one Muslim neck pullover.

“A full-scale investigation has already commenced and those found culpable will be charged in court at the conclusion of the investigation.

“The Command urges all residents of Rivers State to remain calm, vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police with the following emergency numbers: 08039213071, 08098880134."