The Rivers State Police Command has arrested suspected robbers operating with commercial tricycle popularly called Keke to rob their victims in different parts of the state.
The spokesperson of the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko in a statement, said that the arrests of the suspects followed the order issued by the commissioner of police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu to all divisions and tactical units to crack down on criminals.
She said that in the past few months, armed robbers using Keke (tricycles) have attacked various parts of the state, stating while some of the robbers were arrested, some of their partners in crime are still at large and being trailed by the police.
“On April 4, 2024, the Rivers State Police Command arrested a four-man gang specialized in terrorizing residents in various parts of the State, especially Eliozu, and Rumuodara in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, these gang posed as drivers or commuters of tricycles (Keke Napep) to rob innocent citizens of their valuable starting from 7 pm daily.
“In a bid to rob a victim of her belongings, two of them were arrested by the Elimgbu Division; Arinze Onovo ‘m’ age 32 yrs. old from Ogu Local Government Area of Enugu State and Bright Okere ‘m’ age 29 yrs., a native of Ndoki Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State. Exhibits recovered are one Tricycle and one kitchen knife. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the other gang members and recover their operational weapons.
“On March 8, 2024, operatives of the command while on a routine patrol along Igbo/Etche in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State intercepted one Terry Monday ‘m’ age 22 yrs old, a native of Akwa-Ibom State and Chile Sunday ‘m’ age 24 yrs old a native from Abia State.
“They confessed to belonging to a gang resident in Abia State who constantly steals tricycles in Rivers State and diverts them to Abia for sale. They were in the process of diverting a stolen tricycle when they were apprehended.
“Recovered from them are one tricycle, a locally made pistol, and one cartridge. The Police are still on the hunt for two other members of the gang who fled, an ex-convict.”
Iringe -Koko also disclosed that another keke driver one Joshua Chukwuemeka, 23 was intercepted during a routine stop and search at about 7:45 am along Eneka Road, and found one locally-made rifle, and one live cartridge in his possession.
She added: “The suspect led the police to his gang’s hideout in Ogbo, Ahoada East Local Government Area where one of his accomplices was arrested; one Martins Gods power ‘m’ age 24yrs old a native from Ogbo in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State. The rifle, cartridge, and their operational tricycle are in Police custody as the investigation is still ongoing.”
The police spokesperson also disclosed that:”On 27th May 2024, at about 8:30pm, operatives of the command on patrol along the oil mill by-pass spotted a parked tricycle with some occupants. As the Police van approached, four men jumped out and fled into a nearby bush path.
“Exhibits recovered from the abandoned Keke included three Android phones and a stainless-steel dagger. The Police were able to contact the owners of the recovered phones, who revealed that they were robbed at gunpoint.”
