The Bayelsa State Police Command says its operatives have arrested no fewer than 16 suspected armed robbers, five kidnappers, and 66 teenagers for drug possession and cultism in different parts of the state.
The suspects were paraded at the headquarters of the command in Yenagoa, the state capital, today.
Giving details of the arrest, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Amba Asuquo, said the 66 teenagers, whose ages ranged from 14 to 17 years, were arrested in possession of weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp.
He said the teens, comprising 36 males and 30 females were arrested when a team from the State Anti-Robbery Squad raided a community in Ekeki area of the Yenagoa metropolis.
Asuquo said profiling and screening were ongoing, stressing that the teenagers would not be charged but would be counselled in the presence of their parents, warned and discharged.
From the other suspects that were paraded, the police chief said four locally-made revolver pistols, two pump actions guns, one 7.62mm live ammunition, 20 .9mm live ammunition and 30 rounds of AAA cartridges were recovered.
He explained that on September 28, one Yoko Nathan, 31, and others on the run, came from Azegbene community in Ekeremor Local Government Area to Yenagoa to buy three AK47 rifles but were tracked by detectives.
He said the suspect (Nathan) was arrested on Tombia Road, Yenagoa while trying to exchange money for the guns, while others fled.
He said the suspect confessed that the guns were meant for kidnapping, sea robbery and armed robbery.
Asuquo also said, ”On October 4, 2017, about 7 pm, policemen on patrol intercepted a tricycle with three occupants, armed with a locally-made revolver pistol with five rounds of live ammunition on Melford Okilo Road.
”On sighting the police team, the hoodlums fled. They were chased by the police and one of them was arrested, other gang members were traced to Tana Suite on Custom Road, Biogbolo, Yenagoa.
”The suspects were searched and one locally made revolver pistol with five rounds of .9mm live ammunition was recovered from one of the suspects, James Oweifa, 21. The other suspect is Peter Enang, 22.”
Investigation is ongoing in the matter.
The police boss added that on October 5, one Godbless Miller, 28, Agala Lawrence, 26 and Longlife Edwin, 23, all of Opolo-Epie community were arrested in connection with cult activities at a hideout in Opolo, based on a tip-off.
He said upon interrogation, one of the suspects, Miller, confessed to being a dealer in Indian hemp and the suspects admitted to being members of Greenlander cult.
