Members of the Kogi State police command has paraded 15 suspects whose alleged crimes ranged from torture of victims, rape and stealing of valuable substances belonging to their victims.
The state commissioner of police, Paul Okafor, earlier gave an order to members of his command on the need to rid the state of the criminals.
However, one of the suspects, Hassan Salami, 18, was identified by one of the victims who accused Salami of putting on his stolen shirt. But Salami denied the allegation, insisting that it was a gift by one Musa.
According to the suspect, “Musa gave the shirt to me. He came to sleep in our house because he said he had no place to sleep. One day he came home early in the morning with a bag and started sharing clothes; he gave this to me.”
Okafor, while parading the suspects, stated that based on information and incessant house breaking and other criminal activities in Adankolo, Jida Bassa, Emiworo, Elete and Aniebo quarters in Lokoja the state capital, the policemen raided some of the criminal hideouts and arrested the suspects. According to him, “One of the suspects, ThankGod Oboyi Emmanuel, who has a pending criminal case at Upper Area Court in Lokoja was arrested with some exhibits.”
He added that the recovered items have been identified by their owners and victims, adding that investigation into the case is in progress.
Other items recovered from the suspects included two AK-47 rifles, 20 rounds of live ammunition, two pump action guns, one English-made double barrel gun and 31 rounds of live cartridges, among other items.
