Police Arrest Eight Suspected IPOB Members In Rivers

Three Police Stations in Rivers State came under attack yesterday 21/10/2020 at about 2130hrs when hoodlums numbering about 500 suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) invaded the Oyigbo Area Command, Oyigbo and Afam Police Stations, setting them ablaze and damaging about fifteen vehicles including one Armored Personnel Carrier (APC).

In the wake of the attack, two Police Officers were killed and some arms and ammunition carted away by the hoodlums.

In another attack at the Mile one Police Station, the same rampaging IPOB members who operated under the guise of #ENDSARS Protests made frantic attempt at burning the Mile One Police Station and the office of Eagle Crack Squad but were however repelled by the superior fire power of the Police, as three of them were fatally wounded in the exchange of gunfire, while eight (8) of them were arrested and immediately transferred to State CID where they are currently helping in our investigation.

We have been able to stabilize the Command, though there are still pockets of threats from their remnants at the fringe communities in Oyigbo Local Government Area but no stone will be left unturned till they are arrested and brought to justice.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph G. Mukan, psc(+) is hereby appealing to the good people of Rivers State to remain calm and religiously obey the curfew imposed by the State Government which may though have its attendant inconveniences but however made in good faith and in the overall interest of the citizenry.

So far adequate deployments have been made to cover all the flashpoints and ensure that the hoodlums are kept at arm’s length while appealing to parents and guardians to warn their children to remain law-abiding or else the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on them.

Rivers State has in recent time enjoyed fragile peace which we are poised to sustain. For all intents and purposes, the State is bigger than anybody or group; hence we must all strive to entrench lasting peace in the State. The #ENDSARS protests and the Consequential Demands are being addressed by both the Federal and State Governments; therefore, any attempt to undermine the security of the State will be resisted. The constitutional duty of the Police to protect lives and property is sacrosanct and must be carried out in a most professional manner.

The public is hereby enjoined to report any perceived security threat to the following dedicated lines;

08032003514

08098880134

08033825393

08033396538

Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni,

FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE,

RIVERS STATE POLICE COMMAND,

PORT HARCOURT.