Sylvester Idowu in Warri
A 30-years-old Akpos James, whose gang allegedly specialised in attacking security agents, has been arrested by operatives of the Delta State Police Command.
The suspect, James alias ‘General’, an indigene of Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, was the leader of the criminal gang that allegedly killed some policemen in Ughelli in February.
His gang, THISDAY gathered, had stormed an eatery in Ughelli, shot dead some policemen and made away with their rifles.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Edafe Bright, confirmed the arrest.
He said the suspect was arrested in Abraka on April 24, 2021, during an operation carried out by the Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad (SAKCCS) operatives, acting on available intelligence.
The police spokesman said the suspect has been fingered in the killing of the policemen in Ughelli on January 10, 2021, adding that he was also a member of the gang that carried out several kidnap and armed robbery operations in Abraka, Warri, Ughelli and Sapele environs in Delta State.
“Upon interrogation, the suspect, who gave useful information in connection to the crimes, led SAKCCS operatives to the gang’s hideout at Bomadi waterside last weekend,” Bright said.
According to him, other members of his gang were engaged in a gun battle with the police which other escaped into the river with various degrees of gunshot injuries.
Bright disclosed that two AK-47 rifles, 114 rounds of 7.62 ammunition with six magazines were recovered during the raid, noting that a manhunt has been lunched for the fleeing members of the gang.
Meanwhile, the police have urged members of the public to give any useful information that will lead to the arrest of the other fleeing members of the gang to the police, while assuring informants that their identity will be treated with high level of confidentiality.
