The Rivers State Police Command has arrested 16 persons suspected to be involved in the murder of a female police inspector, Christiana Erekere.
Inspector Erekere was murdered in the line of duty on April 25, 204, in front of Taabaa Police Station in Khanna local government area of the state.
This come as the the Police Command in Lagos State says it has arrested three suspected armed robbers, who robbed and attacked, with a machete, a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Alausa division, Ikeja, CSP Tokunbo Abaniwonda.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrests to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, April 30.
In a statement, the spokesperson of the Rivers Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said a group of individuals, who rode in a private vehicle, stoned Inspector Erekere to death.
“According to preliminary investigations, the incident occurred when a group of individuals, travelling in a Lexus salon car, was stopped for routine checks at the checkpoint in front of Taabaa Police Station,” the statement read.
“However, the occupants became agitated and proceeded to barricade the road, obstructing the movement of other vehicles. After completing the necessary checks, the police officers requested that the individuals leave the scene.
“Unfortunately, they refused, alleging that Inspector Erekere had recorded a video of their disruptive behaviour, using her mobile phone.
“In their attempt to seize Inspector Erekere’s phone forcefully, they launched a violent attack against her, striking her with stones.
“The severity of the assault caused Inspector Erekere to lose consciousness, and she was immediately transported to Nnadum Hospital in Bori. Regrettably, she succumbed to the Injuries sustained during the attack.”
The statement noted that the Rivers State Police Command has initiated a thorough investigation into the abhorrent incident, adding that all individuals involved would be apprehended and brought to justice.
“The Command extends its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased colleague during this difficult time,” the statement said.
“Inspector (Christiana) Erekere’s remains have been transferred to the mortuary pending an autopsy.
“The Rivers State Police Command deeply regrets this unfortunate incident, and reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are swiftly apprehended and held accountable for their actions.”
Meanwhile, the Police Command in Lagos State has arrested three suspected armed robbers, who robbed and attacked, with a machete, a DPO, CSP Tokunbo Abaniwonda, in Alausa, Ikeja.
Confirming the arrests, the command’s spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said that on April 9, at about 11.00 p.m., the Alausa division was on a sting operation at Otedola Bridge, Alausa, Ikeja.
He said while the officers were at the bridge, a gang of three suspected armed robbers emerged from their hideout and attacked the DPO with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.
He said the suspects also made away with CSP Abaniwonda’s Samsung S22 phone, and escaped to an unknown destination after the attack.
Hundeyin said investigation revealed that the suspects forcefully snatched the handset from CSP Abaniwonda, after attacking her with a machete on the back.
“Subsequently, on April 13, at about 10.00 a.m., intelligence gathering showed that the said suspects were sighted hiding at a hotel in Akute area of Ajuwon Ogun,” SP Hundeyin said.
“One other suspect, 25, was also arrested with the ring leader in the hotel. They were taken to the police station for investigation with exhibits found on them,” adding that additional efforts led to the arrest of the 25-year-old third suspect.
“Further investigation revealed that the ring leader has been robbing on Otedola Bridge for the past five years, but changing his boys every time for operations.”
