The Eastern Port Police Command has arrested two suspects for vandalizing wharf steel beam underneath the quay apron worth over N20 million at the Rivers Port in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The Commissioner of Police, Eastern Port Police Command, Evelyn Peterside, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said the suspects are members of a syndicate who are in the business of vandalizing steel beam at the port.
Peterside disclosed that in recent time the command has been inundated with activities of vandals at the port, adding that the suspects were arrested with several items including gas cylinders of different sizes.
According to her, the effort of the Command has yielded results leading to the arrest of two suspects and recovery of exhibits.
“On 8th November, 2021 at about 10:00 hours, acting on credible information, that hoodlums were sighted cutting NPA wharf steel beam underneath the quay apron valued at N20 million at the Port Harcourt port. The Ports Authority Police Eastern Command moved swiftly by deploying its marine team which gave them a hot pursuit in the coastal waters and arrested the following suspects: “Williams Tubotamuno aged 38yrs ‘m’ who claims he reside at No. 125, Akwuzu Street, and No. 85 of same street. But investigation so far shows that such addresses do not exist. Also arrested was Akpos Ekiye aged 44yrs ‘m’ of the same address.
“Exhibits recovered from the suspects include: One techno mobile phone, one canoe and two paddles, three gas cylinders of different sizes, two spanners, one wooden canoe with some particles of rusted iron fillings.
“The suspects are members of a notorious organised syndicate that has been vandalizing the beams of quay aprons of the port terminals, thereby causing it to collapse to the extent of disrupting shipping activities at the port which will cost the NPA a substantial amount of money to fix.
“Efforts are ongoing to trace their accomplice receivers in order to smash similar syndicates of notorious vandals. The arrest of these hoodlums, will no doubt reduce the tide of vandalising the quay aprons of the port,” she said.
She also said operatives of the Eastern Port Police Command in the last one month have recovered 23 bags of wheat worth N166,500 stolen from the terminals, and arrested five suspects who will be charged to court on completion of investigation.
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