The Bayelsa Police Command has paraded five suspects who killed a police inspector during an attack at the country home of former Governor Seriake Dickson in Toru-Orua, Sagbama Local Government Area in November.
Parading the suspects at the State Police Command headquarters, on Monday, the State Commissioner of Police, Mike Okoli, said the suspects who have confessed to the crime, said they only planned but never carried out the crime, adding that investigations are ongoing.
Also paraded were forty other suspects for various crimes ranging from murder, arson, armed robbery, cultism, and rape, with arms, ammunition, substance suspected to be Indian hemp recovered from the suspects.
Notable among the paraded criminals is the leader of the gang who killed four worshipers in a church in Azikoro town, a suburb of the state capital in August, with an AK 47 rifle recovered from the suspect.
A 40 year old jealous lover who killed a pastor and one other in an arson attack over suspicion of cheating last month was also paraded.
Also paraded were two leaders of the Bobos and Greenlanders cult groups responsible for the killing of rival cult members in a cult war in state.
Another 41 year old father of two who allegedly raped a 25 year old virgin and former youth corp member was also paraded by the Commissioner of Police.
CP Okoli said: “On November 18 this year, the house of former governor of Bayelsa State in Toru-Orua was invaded by unknown gunmen who operated through the river.
“The invaded the building in search of money, apparently their search did not yield any dividend, they ended up shooting and killing our own police inspector.
“We went into action, we have been following the case diligently, at the moment five suspects connected to that incident are in our net.
“They confessed clearly that they planned the attack but that they did not carry it out, so the question comes up, if you planned the attack and did not carry it out.
“You got to tell us who carried it out, on that ground they will go to court to tell the court what they know about that incident.
“Based on a tipped off at the Swali Water front in Yenagoa, my detectives located a boat loaded ready to sail to Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
“They arrested the boat, search it and recover a large quantity of substance suspected to be Indian Hemp, they also recovered a bag containing 200 live cartridges, the type use by pump action gun. We have arrested them and they are in our custody.
“This is a very pathetic one, a 25 year old lady who just finished youth service, from medical report this lady is still a virgin.
“This young man lured her, promised her marriage and took her to a friend’s house, unknown to her that this man was planning to have unlawful carnal knowledge of her. He locked her up in the room.
“This girl knelt down and begged him in the name of God not to rape her, the man insisted that if she refuses that he is going to kill her. He raped her and escaped.
“Through discreet investigation we have been able to arrest him and he confessed to the crime and the case is almost set for prosecution in court.
“Cases of rape, defilement we have no mercy on them, infact all heinous cases under my watch, we must make sure that they are diligently prosecuted.
“You will recalled in my maiden press briefing when I arrived in Bayelsa State, I did tell you that crimes are inevitable because there is no society that can be said to be crime free.
“But that I will do everything to make sure that we will respond promptly, pursue them, where ever they are and make sure that we apprehend them to face justice, that promise is what am showing to you,” he said.
