Police arrest vandals while attempting to steal N7.2bn gas turbine

- Bayelsa state police have arrested seven suspects trying to steal a gas turbine

- The turbine is valued at about N7.2bn and is made in Russia

- The gas turbine was about being stolen from Etelebou, Gbarain community of Yenagoa

Asuquo Amba with other police officers / File Photo

The Bayelsa state police command reports that men from the command have intercepted a Russian gas turbine worth N7.2bn.

They prevented it from being stolen at Etelebou, Gbarain community of Yenagoa local government area of the state.

Mr Asuquo Amba, the commissioner of police in Bayelsa announced the victory during a conference in Yenagoa on Monday, February 6.

Mr Amba revealed that seven suspects were arrested and five trucks recovered during the operation.

He said: "On January 29, 2017 at about 1400 hours, through information, the police intercepted a Russian gas turbine at Etelebou, Gharain and prevented the removal of the said turbine valued at about N7.2bn.

"Seven suspects were arrested and five trucks recovered. Investigation is ongoing.”

The police commissioner, who resumed office about two weeks ago also went on to list other successes of the command.

He said: ”On July 5, 2016, one Captain Buruma, male, who was in charge of a vessel, Yade One, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen along Angiama river, between Bayelsa and Delta State, during which an army personnel and a civilian were killed.

”The victim was held hostage for about 63 days together with two others: one Sunny Andy and Bernard Narebo, along Azuzuama area of Bayelsa State before he was released by his captors.

”One of the kidnappers, Shola Job, male, 24 years from Azuzuama community, was sighted at Okutukuku in Yenagoa on February 1, 2017 at about 2pm in Yenagoa by one of the victims who raised the alarm and he (Job) was arrested. The suspect is undergoing interrogation and investigation is ongoing.”

According to Punch, Amba also said that on January 29, 2017, the command control room received a distress call from one Toju Adama from Ogborikoko, Warri, Delta State that his Hilux van was stolen and was tracked to Agudama Ekpetiama in Bayelsa State.

Operatives from the state command responded immediately and arrested the occupants of the Hilux, one John Ogah, male, a dismissed soldier, from Cross river State, but his cohort, one Shedrack escaped at the scene.

A bunch of master keys were recovered from the suspect, noting that upon interrogation, four other Toyota Camry cars were recovered each from Andrew Henry of Amassoma in Southern Ijaw LGA of the state, Ndubuisi Okafor, from Ebonyi State, Godday Berenege from Amassoma, and Taye Afolabi from Osun State.

In conclusion, he said the successes recorded by the command since he assumed office were due to the synergy between the police and critical stakeholders in the state such as paramount rulers, community leaders and youths.

He assured the audience that the command would rout crime and criminality in the state and to make Bayelsa peaceful and safe.

Meanwhile, a National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) members in Bayelsa state identified as Jumoke has been reported dead.

Jumoke was in platoon 8 at Kaiama grammar school in Kolokuma LGA, Bayelsa state.