Nigerian Police: Foils, Armed Robbers, attack on Arik Air in Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Police Command has foiled an attack that would have thrown the world into mourning in Port Harcourt. The command led by the Special Intelligence Team of the Inspector General of Police killed three suspected armed robbers during a shoot out at the busy UTC Junction in Port Harcourt on their way to attack Arik Airline.

Spokesman of the Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni told newsmen that the IGP Special Intelligence Team acted based on tip-off to stop the armed men who were heavily armed. DSP Omoni said the team acting on credible information had been monitoring the gang for the past one month until the day of the shoot out.

One of the hoodlums, identified as Peter James, who escaped being killed, said they had planned to attack a plane belonging to the popular airline in the country. It was also learnt that the suspects were forced to stop by the traffic light as they queued behind other vehicles waiting for their turn to move. It was gathered that attempts made by the armed robbers to escape after noticing the superior fire power of the policemen proved futile as three of them were gunned down while the fourth sustained gunshot injuries.

According to DSP Omoni, “Today, November 28, 2016, the IGP Intelligence Response Team, working on credible intelligence, intercepted this gang of armed robbers, who were heading to Arik Airline. “Then there was an exchange of fire at the end of which three of them were killed and one was arrested. “On interrogation, the suspect said they were on a mission to attack an Arik plane.

“The suspect confessed to being one of the members of a gang that killed a police corporal during the All Progressives Congress rally in Okrika in 2015. “The arrested suspect, who gave his name as Peter James, 30 year old, and a native of Bayelsa State, is currently helping us with our investigation. ”