In its fight against crime and criminality, the Rivers State Police Command recently achieved significant success when it rounded up a gang which specialised in armed robbery and kidnapping the state residents on flyovers.
One Chance method of operation by a group of criminals is to pick up unsuspecting people waiting for a bus or taxi as passengers, after which they would be robbed while in motion, threatening them with weapons if they should refuse to yield to their demands.
Thenewsbearer learnt that before the gang members were nabbed, their area of notoriety was preying on unsuspecting victims using the One Chance chance tactics, raising concerns for authorities and residents of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the arrest, said that the gang, consisting of four individuals, used to operate with one of them as a driver while others would pretend to be passengers in a commercial vehicle, targeting victims on flyovers.
The modus operandi, according to the police spokeswoman, involved brandishing weapons such as a locally-made pistol and daggers to intimidate victims before dispossessing them of their valuables.
It was learnt that the gang’s criminal activities began in October 2023 when their leader, Smart Obele (currently at large), initiated the One Chance scheme with Michael Gershon, a native of Ikolinem-Ikot-Okon in Esemudim Local Government Area.
Michael, aged 27, was said to have agreed to use his vehicle for the One Chance operations after a meeting where the details were discussed.
The PPRO said that Nsikak Ibanga, aged 26, was thereafter introduced to the gang by Michael, having arrived in Port Harcourt from Akwa-Ibom state.
Nsikak, described as a ‘fearless operator,’ joined the gang alongside Peace Paul, aged 22, who was informed by Michael that he would be sending her money frequently for withdrawal.
The gang reportedly strategised their operations, targeting women exclusively and executing their plans on a weekly basis, starting at 9pm.
The gang also added violence to their criminal activities, with victims usually beaten severely before being robbed.
They were said to have extorted N1.8 million from a victim’s Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and with the use of a Point of Sale (PoS) machine.
The PPRO said that the arrest of the three suspects, Michael, Nsikak, and Peace, had resulted in confessions and cooperation with authorities to capture the remaining members of the gang.
She stated further that the police recovered the gang’s operational vehicle, an ash-colur Mazda 323.
The Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, who commended the operatives for their use of technology in crime prevention, urged residents to report suspicious activities promptly.
“The police commissioner emphasised the commitment of the law enforcement officers to ensuring public safety and combating criminal elements in Rivers State,” Iringe-Koko stressed.
