From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 35-year-old suspected notorious Iceland cult leader, terrorising Eleme Area of the state, Barikui Amanyie(aka Lawyer) in Eleme.
The arrest was in response to a directive given by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu, to tactical units and Divisions to intensify efforts to apprehend criminals on the watch list of the Rivers State Police command.
Barikui, who hails from Kaanii in Khana Local Government Area of the State, has been on the watchlist of the Police since December 31, 2021, when he and five other members of his gang allegedly murdered one Mr. Lioneda Lebari. On the fateful day, the deceased was tracked by the gang after withdrawing his annual savings of NGN150,000 from a local thrift collector.
Daily Sun gathered that the suspect tracked the deceased to the Oil-Mill junction, where he was attacked by Barikui and his gang and stabbed him multiple times. He later died of severe wounds while his attackers fled the scene of the crime.
The suspect, before his arrest, had been in hiding, switching hideouts regularly to evade arrest.
However, on Friday, December 20, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Rivers State Police responded to a tip-off and apprehended the suspect in his hideout in Eleme. Among the items recovered from the suspect were locally made pistols and charms. The suspect had confessed to the crime and was charged to the Court on a two-count of murder and cultism.
Investigations were still on as the Police get closer to apprehending other members of the murderous gang.
CP Disu, expressed satisfaction with the promptness of the men of the Command in dealing with suspects on the police watchlist.
He further charged them not to relent in the campaign against crime as the command had begun gaining grounds on crime and criminality in the state.
He vowed that the command would ensure that other members of the gang that murdered Mr. Lebari ,would be brought to justice soonest.
He also seized the opportunity to assure law-abiding residents of the state that the police would continue to give their utmost best to making the state peaceful.