The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 35-year-old suspected armed robber, Innocent Chigozie, believed to be the leader of a notorious cult gang responsible for terrorizing farmlands along Uzo Afor Road in Okahia Community, Elele, Etche Local Government Area.
Chigozie was apprehended on January 30, 2025, at around 6:30 a.m. during a coordinated intelligence operation led by the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU).
Confirming the arrest, the command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, stated that the suspect confessed to owning the recovered weapons, which included an automatic pump-action gun and two live cartridges.
“The suspect and his gang have been a menace to residents, causing fear and panic in the area. Last year, the gang engaged police operatives in a gun battle but was repelled. However, on January 30, 2025, through intelligence gathering, operatives tracked and arrested Innocent Chigozie at his hideout,” Iringe-Koko revealed.
The suspect and the recovered exhibits are currently in police custody as investigations continue to track down other fleeing gang members and recover additional weapons.
Iringe-Koko described the arrest as a major breakthrough in the police command’s ongoing fight against cultism and armed robbery. She reassured residents of the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order in the state.
