The Ports Authority Police, Eastern Ports Command, has assured all port users within the Command of adequate security while carrying out their daily businesses.
This is even as the Command arrested some persons allegedly involved in port vandalism, theft, criminal diversion of sugar belonging to BUA Foods and other crimes within the Eastern Port.
Acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO)of the Command, SP Anjugeuri Manzah who gave the assurance onbehalf the Commissioner, CP Jimoh Moshood during a media briefing and parade of some suspects at the Dockyard in Port Harcourt, noted that although crimes are low within the Port, but said
within a short period, the Command has arrested and prosecuted several suspects for different offenses ranging from diversion of goods, wheat, sugar, and flour among others, worth millions of naira.
He said some suspects have also been arrested and prosecuted for attempts in cutting aprons under the berths and stealing in Rivers Port, adding that thirteen of the suspects are currently being remanded in the Correctional Services Custody while they undergo prosecution.
Giving details of some of the arrests and recoveries made, SP Manzah said, “On 1st October, 2024 at about 0350hrs acting on actionable intelligence, Police operatives attached to the Rivers Port Police Division swooped on a location within Rivers Port, where a truck load of sugar belonging to BUA Terminal was diverted and the sugar being re-bagged into different bags and four suspects which include: Nicholas Ibe, 49 years old, Ibrahim Musa, 26 years old, Austine Ameibe, 43 years old and Prince Titus, 24 years old, were arrested in the act.”
He opined that a total of One Hundred and Eighteen (118) bags of sugar were recovered from them, adding that all the suspects have confessed to the crime, while efforts are being intensified to arrest other suspects at large.
Manzah further said the bags of sugar have however, been released on bond to the BUA Group because they are perishable goods, assuring that the suspects will be charged to court on completion of investigation.The PPRO also disclosed that men of theCommand arrested one Dikio Okombasuspected notorious vandal who is currently being remanded at the Correctional Center, while his prosecution is ongoing.
The Command’s Spokesperson in the meantime, listed some other achievements of the Command to include: foiling terminal vandalism attempts, recovery of drifting boat, while listing items recovered from suspected vandals and criminal elements within the ports to include: five wooden boats, gas cylinders, cutters, saw blades, hammers, and other equipments.
He assured the Nigerian Ports Authority and other operators within the Eastern Port of riding the area of all forms of crime, while enhancing smooth business activities at the port.
According to him: “I want to reiterate that the Command will intensify the hunt for the fleeing suspects until they and their gangs are arrested and brought to justice.
“The Commissioner of Police Eastern Ports Police Command, wishes to assure all port users that the Command is dedicated to providing a safe environment for the NPA management and staff, port facilities, port users and other critical stakeholders to carryout their day to day business and other activities peacefully.” The PPRO assured.
He also commended the peaceful relationship between the command, NPA management, host community, sister security agencies and other stakeholders within the Port as being responsible for the successes recorded.
During cross examination by journalists, one of the suspects, Austine Ameibe, who is a Record Keeper at the port, admitted to aiding the diversion of the truck load of sugar by issuing them clearance at the port.
