Following the recent upsurge in violent crimes in Bayelsa, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris has sent a special squad to compliment the efforts of Bayelsa Police Command in combatting crime.
Mr Asuquo Amba, Commissioner of Police-in-charge of Bayelsa Command who confirmed the development to newsmen noted that the proliferation of arms was hindering the efforts of the Police.
Amba said that the arrival of the IGP squad has strengthened the manpower needs of the police as well as enhanced the command’s capacity to provide security for lives and property to ensure a crime-free yuletide.
He said that the command was receiving specialised technical support from the IGP team and has been linked to the IGP’s platform used for technology-based scientific investigations in the area of analysing telephone calls.
He said that the slight increase in crime rate would soon be a thing of the past following strategies put in place to intensify raids and increase vehicular patrols.
No fewer than five people have been shot dead in Bayelsa in the past two weeks, according to Police records.
A female journalist survived an armed robbery attack in Yenagoa a few days ago.
Amba also said that the command was having challenges with the lack of detention facilities and that it compelled them to resort to using the facilities of sister security agencies.
He noted that the command had also received assurances from Bayelsa government that a modern detention facility for the Bayelsa Police Command was being put together and would be ready in January 2018.
The Commissioner noted that despite several challenges facing the Bayelsa Police Command under his watch, the command had made modest achievements policing the state and identified the major crimes as armed robbery, cultism, kidnapping, illegal possession and piracy.
He explained that between January 2017 till date, 62 murder cases were reported to the command with 68 arrested while 21 cases are being investigated while 27 have been charged to court.
On rape and indecent assault, he said that 73 cases have been reported within the period under review, 122 suspects were arrested, 37 cases under investigation while 15 has been charged to court.
According to Amba 33 cases of kidnapping were reported to the command, 87 arrested, 17 under investigation while eight cases have been charged to court.
He said that the command got 177 reports of armed robbery cases from January 2017 till date, and 241 suspects were apprehended, 70 under investigation.
He said that 56 of the reported cases have been transferred to the Directorate of Public Prosecution for legal advice and 27 cases have been charged to court.
On the unlawful possession of firearms, he said that 66 arms were recovered under the period of review 107 suspects were arrested, 29 cases are currently being investigated while 30 while 13 has been charged to court.
Amba said that the command recovered a total of 40 locally made pistols, 5 locally made double barrel guns, 11 pump action guns, three revolver pistols, 8 K2 rifles and four AK-47 rifles.
On ammunition, he said 105 8f 7.62 mm ammunition, one dynamite, one 90 cartridges, 12.99 ammunition and one grenade noting that the arms haul was a landmark effort for a state that is 80 per cent riverine.
He urged residents not to panic on seeing the increased number of policemen as it was an effort to forestall the activities of unrepentant criminals in the state.
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