Port Harcourt — The bubble of serenity enjoyed by inhabitants of Rivers State may have been burst by criminal activities in the state in recent time.

People living in the state who celebrated their Christmas and New Year in a crime-free atmosphere have not had it so good since, especially during this run off period towards Easter. This is because of the spiking criminality in the area. Within two weeks of this month, the Rivers State Police Command said it lost three of its offices but succeeded in arresting over 55 notorious criminals operating in the state suspected to be kidnappers, armed robbers, cultists and the likes.

The Police Commissioner, Suleiman Abba, who resumed duty on December 4, 2009 briefed the press last Monday in Port Harcourt over the spate of criminal operations in the state by men of the underworld.

He recalled that on assumption of duty in the state, residents experienced peace as they celebrated the yuletide in a crime-free atmosphere because of enormous provision of security by his command, assisted by the military and other security agencies, pointing out that since then socio-economic activities has continued to pick-up.

He regretted, however, that within two weeks into March some violent criminals killed some of his men. In an emotion-laden voice, he said that "no where in the world does a killer of a policeman go scot-free and it would not be different in Rivers State. The Rivers Police Command, therefore, has strengthened its officers and strategised on how to fish out the culprits and other persons involved in violent crimes."

The commissioner disclosed that the renewed collaborated effort to catch those that killed his men has paid off as over 55 of such suspected criminals involved in kidnap, armed robbery, cultism and the likes had been apprehended.

Abba released names of some criminals currently cooling off in prison, including one Gift Onwukwuta (alias Gift O), whom he described as a notorious kidnapper and an suspected killer of a policeman in 2009, saying two of his gang members earlier declared wanted and had been arrested, had since made useful statements of their various crimes.

He also named one Njoku Elder, Chinoso Onwuaha and other culprits who kidnapped 10-year-old Oslam Chibuzor on March 10 this year, now rescued, among criminals in his kidnap net.

On armed robbery operations, the Police Commissioner said his command has cut down to a minimal level, through its adopted 'No Mercy' posture, on violent crimes. This has led to arrest of one Ereetus Kalu, 21, from Ebonyi State, saying that the alleged criminal was known to be a notorious terror and leader of over 30 cult group members at Gambia Street, Mile 2 Diobu, Port Harcourt and terrorised residents of Jamanze and Diobu areas.

Abba also disclosed that together with the likes of Kalu was one Paul Oloku, a 32-year-old man from Iyala area of Cross-Rivers State who was arrested on March 11, 2010 with mobile police uniform, a pair of boots, green beret, police badge and other items, recovered from his house at Elekahia area in the state capital.

Also within the same month, the CP said a dubious young lady who came from Abuja to Port Harcourt was arrested while going about from the state Government House to other places, attempting to dupe people.

Abba further stated that on March 8, an anti-robbery patrol team anticipated barges loaded with crude oil at the Imo gate River close to Oyigbo in Rivers State, and that the suspect, Andrew Derekaka, is now in the police net. He confirmed that the content of the barges could fill six trucks.

Another recent case was about a tipper driver who was arrested on March 10 at Eteo Junction, Eleme Local Government Area of the state, carrying 10 drums loaded with petroleum products, while five other arrested suspected bunkerers were also chatting with the Police Criminal Investigation Department.

He said in a nut-shell: "The command is not just concentrating on violent crimes, though this press briefing's focus is on the killing of our men by men of the underworld, who we cannot allow escape just like that."