Nigeria Police chief, Ibrahim Idris

The Nigeria Police Force on Friday said it had arrested four suspected kidnappers and killers of the Port Harcourt-based human rights Lawyer, Mr Ken Atsuwete.

Atsuwete was killed on Aug. 29 along Onuchiolu road, Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers.

Presenting the suspects to newsmen in Abuja, the Force Spokesman, Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Don Awunah said that the killing was as a result of a botched kidnap attempt.

“Contrary to wide public suspicion that he (suspect) was hired to assassinate the deceased, the suspect’s statement revealed a botched kidnap attempt,“he said.

He said that items recovered from them are: AK 47 rifle, 124 live ammunitions and four AK 47 magazines.

Awunah said that the arrest was made by the Inspector-General of Police monitoring team based in Port Harcourt, after a painstaking investigation.

He added that the series of arrests made by the police was due to commitment of personnel, intelligence and assistance of members of the public.

In a related development, the police also arrested a syndicate of armed robbers and kidnappers who kidnapped one Samuel Iheanachor along Aba-Oyigbo expressway.

The suspects are: Lance Corporal John Lukas, 25, Abdul Yusuf, 26, Adamu Philip, 19, Peter Godwin, 33 and Orakwe Henry, 28.

Awunah, who presented the suspects before newsmen, said they were arrested on Oct. 15 in Boni camp after Lukas was intercepted while driving the victim’s Highlander Jeep.

He said that crime and criminal activities had reduced by 70 per cent in the past four months throughout the country.

The spokesman added that there was 85 per cent increase in the ability of the police to apprehend offenders and corresponding increase in prevention and detection rates.

He advised members of the public to avail the police necessary with information and cooperation to sustain the achievements.

“Criminals and undesirable elements in our communities must be incapacitated and brought to justice in accordance with the rule of law,“he said.

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris has urged the men of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) to conduct themselves in a professional manner.

Idris gave the advice at the closing ceremony of a three-day training for SARS operatives in Abuja on Friday.

Idris was represented by the, Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Administration, Mr Shuaibu Gambo.

“As you leave here, the expectation is very high, display a high sense of professionalism.

“We do not expect to have the negative report we used to have about SARS,“he said.

Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, Counsellor, Nigeria United Against Terror, said the training was to enhance police-citizen relationship.

She added that the training was also aimed at making SARS personnel operate within the ambit of the law.(NAN)