- Warns against spread of distorted views on operations
Upon receiving a petition from a law firm regarding the disruptive actions of armed hoodlums in Nembe Bassambiri Community, Bayelsa State, who were consistently terrorizing its members with guns and dangerous weapons, law enforcement authorities took decisive action. This was further prompted by other similar complaints and intelligence reports in the region. Consequently, the Police Strike Force was deployed to the area to conduct a thorough operation aimed at eliminating the threat posed by these armed hoodlums.
According to ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the operation was executed on the evening of Saturday, August 12, 2023. The outcome of the operation was the successful apprehension of eight suspects, namely Gift Vanman, Daniel Solomon, Ishmael Teknikio (also known as Moore), Rufus Itario, Joel Jubilee, Sylvanus Alatari, Sounpre Solomon, and Ayebanate Talbot (POS). The seized items included 3 AK-47 Rifles, 2 pump action guns, 1 LAR rifle, 1 jack-knife, 1 dagger, various magazines, 104 rounds of live ammunition of different calibers, 2 POS machines, 10 ATM cards, and 1 rechargeable bulb.
Adejobi emphasized that the Police wanted to clarify that the operation was conducted collaboratively by a group of police operatives to restore order in the community. The officers demonstrated professionalism, impartiality, and proactivity in their mission to free the community from the fear caused by the unlawful activities of the armed hoodlums. He asserted that the Police Force would not tolerate lawlessness or flagrant violations of the law anywhere in the country.
Addressing the misinformation circulating in the news, which falsely claimed that the community had been attacked by criminals dressed as police officers, Adejobi stated that these distorted reports were the deliberate work of troublemakers aiming to destabilize the nation. He warned against such intentional efforts to spread falsehoods and disrupt peace.
Adejobi issued a stern warning to all those in society who engaged in instilling fear among law-abiding citizens and contributing to unrest across the nation. He urged them to cease such activities, as the police were fully committed to eradicating hooliganism, terrorism, and other serious breaches of the law. The police force would spare no effort in purging society of these negative elements.
Adejobi assured the Nigerian public of the unwavering dedication of the Police Force to address security concerns promptly by acting on intelligence to counter such actions in any part of the country. He also guaranteed the confidentiality of trustworthy informants and encouraged the public to collaborate with the police and other security agencies by providing timely and actionable intelligence regarding underworld activities and criminal behavior that led to instability.
Adejobi conveyed that the Inspector General of Police reiterated that the operation in Nembe served as a signal to other criminals with similar intentions of inducing fear through their activities across the nation. They were urged to change their ways, as the law would inevitably catch up with them. The suspects apprehended during the operation would face legal charges once investigations concluded.
