According to reports, the incident occurred when a female passenger boarded a commercial minibus in the Rumuosi area of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area without knowing the identity of the other occupants. The vehicle reportedly veered off the road and got stuck in a ditch, prompting the passenger to raise an alarm which drew passersby to the scene.
An eyewitness said residents chased the vehicle after hearing the alarm, and the suspects were eventually held by the crowd before police operatives arrived and took them into custody, preventing mob action.
Confirming the arrest in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Saturday, the spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, Blessing Agabe, described the development as a significant breakthrough in the command's efforts to curb one-chance related activities in the metropolis.
Agabe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the suspects confessed to involvement in the act during preliminary investigation and added that efforts are ongoing to arrest other members linked to the group who fled the scene.
The arrested suspects were identified as Uche Samuel, 45, from Omunato Local Government Area of Imo State, and Nkechi Amadi, 42, from Nekede in Owerri West LGA of Imo State.
According to information obtained by DailyVista247, the arrest followed directives from the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, who ordered operatives to intensify intelligence-led operations against one-chance operators across Port Harcourt and environs.
The Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Olugbenga Adepoju, reiterated the command's commitment to tackling one-chance operations and other forms of violent crime across the state. He said there would be no hiding place for criminal elements and that the command would continue to deploy intelligence-led policing to identify and bring offenders to justice.
He also assured residents of the command's resolve to ensure the safety of law-abiding citizens and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible and timely information to assist security agencies in tracking criminal syndicates.
Police sources said the suspects used a commercial minibus to lure unsuspecting passengers, dispossessing them of cash, phones and ATM cards before pushing them out of the moving vehicle along lonely routes.
The command said the two suspects are currently in custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation, while a manhunt has been launched for other fleeing members of the syndicate who are believed to be operating around Rumuosi, Rumuokoro and Eliozu axis.
Residents have commended the police for the prompt response, calling for sustained patrols and installation of more checkpoints around Obio/Akpor to curb the rising incidents of one-chance robbery which has become a major concern for commuters in Rivers State.
