Army arrests 17 suspected cultists, robbers in Rivers

Operatives of the 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, have arrested 17 suspected cultists and armed robbers.

The Army also recovered arms and ammunition, including dynamites, from the hoodlums from the various locations in the state.

Briefing newsmen before parading the suspects in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Brigade, Captain Eli Lazarus, said arrests were made during their operations in Ahoada East, Ogbogoro in Obio/Akpor, Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Omuonwa and Isiokpo in Ikwerre LGA.

Lazarus listed arms and ammunition recovered from the arrested suspects and others at large as 16 AK 47 rifles, five General Purpose Machine Guns, two fabrique national rifles, six pump action rifles, 11 dane guns and three G-3 rifles.

Others, according to him, are three G-3 magazines, 11 fabrique national magazines, 15 AK 47 rifle magazines, 508 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, 313 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition, two Berratta pistols, three cartridges, 14 rounds of 0.9mm ammunition and two revolver pistols.

Lazarus also listed 14 military boots, three military belts, one fragment jacket, three lane yard, one cartridge belt and nine pieces of dynamite as other items recovered during their ongoing operations.

He said, “The 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army has stepped up its operations to stem the tide of criminal activities in its areas of responsibility. To this end, several raid operations were conducted on suspected criminal/cultists hideouts.”

Lazarus stated that the suspects would soon be handed over to the appropriate agency for further investigation.

He assured residents that the Brigade would continue to work assiduously and make sacrifices to clear criminals in its area of responsibility.

“Therefore, the public is hereby enjoined to continue to provide security agencies useful and timely information that could lead assist in arresting criminals in the society,” Lazarus appealed.