The Rivers State
Police Command has confirmed the arrest of one Sergeant Promise Ukwuoma and an
employee of Access Bank, Rumuolumeni Branch, Samuel Ndudiri,
identified as
members of a criminal gang who attempted to rob the bank.
The policeman and
the bank staff were said to have been apprehended after a discreet
investigation by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team with assistance
from the Technical Intelligence Unit of the Nigeria Police.
The duo, were arrested
at about 11.35 hours on Friday.
It will be recalled
that operatives of the Command had last Thursday foiled what would have been a
major bank robbery in the state and arrested three suspects in the act.
The three suspects
and others on the run had brought a filled gas cylinder to the Access Bank
premises in Rumuolumeni and had engaged in cutting the main door leading to the
bank when security operatives stormed the place, following tip off.
However, some
members of the gang, including a police corporal, Gabriel Igwe, of the 19
Police Mobile Force, are currently on the run, while two AK 47 rifles belonging
to the serving police personnel were recovered during Friday’s operation.
Ndudiri, the Access
Bank employee, was said to have masterminded the failed robbery of the bank
with the assistance of the police sergeant, who is from the Department of
Operations, Port Harcourt.
Police statement
reads: “Arrest of a serving Police Sergeant and bank staff involved in bank
robbery and recovery of two AK47 rifles belonging to serving personnel on
23/12/2016 at about 1135hrs.
“Sequel to the
arrest and handing over of three suspects involved in Access Bank, Eagle Cement
Rumuelumeni branch robbery to Intelligence Response Team by CP, Rivers State,
for discreet investigation, IRT operatives immediately commenced investigation
and with technical assistance from TIU (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, a staff of
Access Bank, Eagle Cement (Rumuolumeni) branch, who brought the job and
masterminded the robbery were both arrested in Port Harcourt.
“Exhibits recovered
are two AK47 Rifles with breach Nos. 523513 / 21173 and two AK47 rifle magazines
fully loaded. One Cpl. 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 escaped 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.
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