Rivers governmnt raise alarm over police allerged plan to release 6 armed youths

The Rivers State government has raised the alarm over alleged reports that the police was planning to release the 6 youths arrested by the Joint Military Task force over the weekend.


The six armed youths were arrested by the JTF on Friday on their way to Ogu in Ogu Bolo Local Government Area.

They had on them several AK-47 rifles, 146 rounds of 7.62mm Special life ammunition and 10 life magazines.

Their names were given as Daniel Ibito-Anga, Sunday Elisha, Uche Jenikachi, Ibinabo Lawson, and Okechukwu Okoro.

In a media briefing in Port Harcourt, the state Commissioner for Information and communication, Ibim Semenitari said if the allegation that the police wants to release the suspected criminals is true, it is unfortunate for the safety of Rivers people.

Popular online media Sahara Reporters had reported that Dame Patience Jonathan ordered Mbu to release the suspects as well as return to them the arms and ammunition that were found in their possession.

It is yet unclear if Mbu has complied with the alleged order, but Mr. Bipi, a former domestic aide of Mrs. Jonathan, is reported to be actively trying to ensure their release.

Semenitari said, “We understand that there are rumours of attempts at freeing those six young men. As a Government, we found that very curious that that will be the case because these are six people who were arrested at Ekporo on their way to Ogu. They were arrested with arms”.

Semenitari called for caution in the handling of the matter adding that Rivers people are watching as events unfold.

She also pointed accusing fingers at the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike and a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly for the attacks on the court.

“Questions should be asked about the kinds of gun they were holding to know if they were licensed. Who licensed the guns, what are the license numbers of the guns? Those questions are important. There was a jeep, who owns the jeep? Some cell phones were found on them, what were the last calls they made, what are the numbers on those cell phones, are there any text messages per adventure?


“We are not uncertain that Mr. Evans Bipi and his clique including his Minister for Education and other persons or those related or close to them may be connected with these happenings”, Semenitari alleged.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command has confirmed to journalists that the suspects were handed over to the police.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Mohammad said that no ammunition was handed over to the police, adding that the police were still waiting for the transfer of the exhibit before it can commence interrogation as well as make their findings known to the public.

Mohammad also said that the police were not under any pressure from any quarter to release the suspects.

In a related development, the PPRO said the explosion that occurred at the early hours of Monday at the premises of the Ahaoda High Court, may have been a scare.

Mohammad told newsmen that the alleged bombing was misleading, adding that it was an Improvised Explosive Device, IED that was discovered.

He said the command’s anti-bomb squad was immediately dispatched to Ahoada on a tip-off at about 09:49 hours that there was an object suspected to be an explosive.

He said though the IED was later rendered safe, another IED was discovered and equally rendered safe.

The PPRO said no casualty was recorded, but noted that the motive of the attacker, as disclosed by the bomb experts analysis, showed that it was intended to cause mere panic.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is accusing the Rivers State Government of  having a hand in the reported bombing of the Ahoada High Court.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the State Party Chairman on Media, Jerry Needam in Port Harcourt and made available to journalists.

The Party alleged that the reported bombing was carried out by agents of the Rivers State Government to prevent the court from sitting, so that the court would not vacate the interim order made by the Ahoada High Court Judge, Justice Wali.

The party also accused Justice Wali of turning his court to a ministerial department of the Rivers State Governor’s office to issue all manners of orders, injunctions and judgements in favour of his pay master, Governor Amaechi and subvert the course of justice.

The PDP further said that the aim of bombing the Ahoada High Court was to further create a state of insecurity in Rivers State, to justify their continuous call for the removal of the State Commissioner of Police.

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