The Rivers State Police Command has arrested three suspects, who were among those that allegedly pushed a passenger off a speeding car in the State.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), a superintendent of Police, Grace Iringe-Koko, said that the police team, which was on patrol, sighted the moment an occupant was pushed out of a speeding vehicle and quickly chased after the car.
When it dawned on them that the police would catch up on them, the driver stopped the car and fled.
The driver and another occupant escaped, but the two arrested three other occupants.
Iringe-Koko explained that on September 4, 2024, at about 9:pm, Operatives of the Command attached to the Intelligence and Surveillance Unit on a routine patrol along Garrison axis of Aba road, Port-Harcourt, sighted a Purple coloured Volkswagen Golf 3, with registration number RIVERS -ABU 738 LS with six occupants.
As the patrol van approached the vehicle, one of the occupants was pushed out of the Car around the Garrison flyover area.
She added: “This heinous action heightened suspicions of the Operatives who then gave the vehicle a hot chase, eventually intercepting the suspects at the Eleme junction just under the bridge.
“The driver and one other escaped, while the Police arrested three suspects namely Thaddeus Sunday Ogu, 42, Chinagorom Eze, 35, and Favour Yusuf, 30.
“One of the suspects, Thaddeus Sunday Ogu attempted to evade arrest by opening fire on the Police operatives which led to him sustaining bodily injuries that eventually proved fatal. He was taken to the Police Clinic, Port-Harcourt where he succumbed to his injuries after receiving treatment.”
Iringe-Koko explained that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects specialized in one-chance operations, luring unsuspecting victims into their operational car while posing as a commercial vehicle.
She added: “They would create a single passenger space (chance) at the front seat, while the gang members would occupy every other chance. When a victim gets in, they would raise a false alarm to get the victim agitated, eventually dispossessing him or her of their money or phones and pushing them out of the moving car.
“They would then sell the stolen items to awaiting receivers and share the proceeds amongst themselves.
“The suspects confessed to the crime and revealed that they have been operating in Port-Harcourt and its environs between 10:pm to 5: am daily for the past three years before meeting their Waterloo on that fateful day.
“Items recovered from the suspects include their operational Golf 3 Volkswagen Car and one locally made pistol with one live cartridge. The investigation is ongoing, while efforts have intensified to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate.
“The suspects and exhibits are in Police custody and will be charged in court after the investigation.”
