Eastern Ports Police Command Nabs Criminals, Thwarts Diversion of Goods; Enhances Ease of Doing Business

In furtherance to ensuring law and order as well as providing measures for ease of doing business, the Eastern Command of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested several criminal suspects and foiled attempts to divert goods at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Dockyard in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Commissioner of Police, Eastern Ports Command, CP Jimoh Moshood made this known at a briefing pointing out that the Command has been making arrests and prosecuting criminal  suspects for different offences ranging from diversion of goods, wheat, sugar, flour, etc, worth millions of Naira.

CP Moshood, who disclosed that 13 of the suspects are currently remanded at Correctional Service Custody and undergoing prosecution, stated that some suspects were arrested and prosecuted for attempting to cut Aprons under the berths and stealing at the Rivers Port.

He also said the Command arrested five suspects in the act of criminal diversion of truck load of sugar, conspiracy and stealing.

He named the suspects as Nicholas Ibe, Ibrahim Musa, Austin Ameibe, Prince Titus, and Isaiah Okongwu adding that the Police Command recovered 118 bags of sugar belonging to BUA Groups.

He continued, “On the 1st October, 2024 at about 0350hrs acting on actionable intelligence, Police operatives attached to the Rivers Ports Police Division swooped on a location within Rivers Port where a truck load of sugar belonging BUA Terminal was diverted and sugar being re-bagged into different bags.

“The four (4) suspects listed above were arrested in the act. A total of One Hundred and Eighteen (118) bags of sugar were recovered from their possession. All the suspects have confessed to the crime and made useful statement helping the Police in further investigation into the matter”.

Noting that “The 118 bags of sugar have been released on bond to the BUA Group because they are perishable goods” he said efforts are still on to arrest other suspects still at large and that all suspects will be charged to court on completion of investigation”.

On other successes recorded, he said the command recovered 4 wooden boats, 1 filled cylinder; two kg cooking gas cylinder and 1 set of fire hose were recovered during a foiled attempt to vandalize the port facilities.

“On 2nd October, 2024 at about 0154hrs eagle-eyed Police operatives of the Command Marine Unit on patrol of the NPA Water front foiled an attempt by some vicious hoodlums to criminally vandalize Quay Aprons under NPA Berth 5.

“The suspects who had positioned themselves under the berth in five (5) wooden boats ready to commence the criminal activity were forced to abandon their wooden boat, equipment and escaped through the sea on sighting the patrol team.

“The unrelenting police operatives after unsuccessful effort to apprehend the suspects recovered the abandoned boats and the equipment as exhibits. Investigation is ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and bring them to justice.

In another case, he said the Command thwarted an attempt to commit another vandalism of the Port facilities noting. “On 20/07/2024, at about 1145hrs, vigilant Police operatives of the Eastern Ports Police Command Marine Police Unit on patrol of the NPA water-ways intercepted and arrested one Dikio Okomba, member of a notorious vandals syndicate, near a Terminal in Port Harcourt.

“This arrest was a result of the joint effort of the Marine Police and Police personnel on foot patrol of the Terminal. The suspect was found with the following exhibits: one welding cylinder, one cutting torch with the hose, one cooking gas cylinder, and others.

CP Moshood said the suspect, Dikio Okomba, has already been charged to court and currently remanded to Correctional custody, while his prosecution is currently on going in court.

“On 03/09/2024 at about 1130hrs, the Command Marine Police operatives on patrol along the NPA Dockyard, River-side, spotted a wooden boat moving suspiciously on portion of the sea with three persons on board.

“The suspects on sighting the approaching Marine Police Patrol boat abandoned their boat and its contents, and escaped by jumping into the river.

“Sequel to search conducted on the abandoned boat, the following exhibits were recovered: One filled gas cylinder, One 5kg cooking gas, One jack, Two saw blades, Two matches, Two hammers, One iron bar, Two setting spanners, Two chisels, Cable wire and Two paddles.

“These recovered exhibits are tools used for vandalizing and stealing iron under the Quay Apron at the Ports Terminal.”

Efforts, he said, are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and bring them to justice.

He added, “On 21/08/2024 at approximately 1035hrs, operatives of the Command Marine Police unit, were on a routine patrol along the Port Harcourt Dockyard NPA water-front and its surroundings when they spotted a moving wooden boat under the NPA Jetty with four individuals on board.

“Upon sighting the Marine Police patrol team, the suspects abandoned their boat including its contents, and jumped into the water to avoid arrest.

“The wooden boat was recovered along with the following equipment exhibits: One gas cylinder, one set of fire hose, One cramp and arch saw.

“The exhibits are equipment used by the suspects for illegal activities along the quay apron of the terminals” and efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects are on-going.

Again, “On 29th September, 2024 at about 1405hrs operatives of the Command Marine Unit recovered a drifting wooden boat within berth 5 NPA Wharf Port Harcourt.

“Sequel to discreet investigation, it was discovered that the boat drifted from Abonnema Wharf Community. Effort is on to trace and investigates further why the boat was abandoned to enable the Police investigators to take further appropriate action on the matter”

While assuring that the Command will intensify the hunt for the fleeing suspects until they and their gangs are arrested and brought to justice, CP Moshood said, “The Eastern Ports Police Command wishes to assure all Port users that the Command is dedicated to providing a safe environment for the NPA Management and Staff, Ports facilities, Port users and other critical stakeholders to carry out their day to day business and other activities peacefully.

“We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the officers and men in the Command for their unwavering dedication, commitment, and diligence to duty.

The CP also appreciated the continuous logistics supports and significant assistance being provided by the Managing Director, Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, and Management

“Let me assure the MD NPA and Management team that the Command will continue to do its best to ensure that all forms of crime and criminality are reduced to the barest to enhance Ports operations and boast economic activities throughout the Eastern Ports.

“Furthermore, the Command wish to place on record the functional and efficient working relationship and synergy between the Ports Authority Police Command, Eastern Ports, and other security and safety agencies, the Port operators, other critical stakeholders and the host communities in ensuring adequate security towards the attainment and successes of the mandates of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other policies of the Federal Government in ensuring ease of doing business in the country.”