Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Port Harcourt, Rivers State — Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested five suspected armed robbers believed to be involved in the high‑profile theft at the Sen. Obi Wali Conference Centre and Tottinno Filling Station in Port Harcourt, the state police confirmed in a statement this week. The arrests represent a significant breakthrough in the investigation of the brazen robbery that shook the state capital.
According to SP Grace Iringe‑Koko, spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, the suspects were apprehended within the Diobu area of Port Harcourt, a neighbourhood that has been central to the inquiry. The command said its intelligence‑led operation traced members of the alleged gang to various locations across the city, culminating in the detention of the five prime suspects linked directly to the conference centre heist.
The arrests are part of a wider sweep that has seen nine suspects taken into custody in connection with the robbery, with the initial five linked to the direct execution of the attack and an additional four connected through supporting roles in the crime.
Names of the five suspected armed robbers were released by the police as: Victor Ukabi (41) from Bende Local Government Area in Abia State; Basil Nwagazie (65) from Owerri West in Imo State; and Nkechinyere Wokem (30), a POS operator from Ubuohia Mbaise in Imo State. Also in custody are Obinna Nwankwo (44) from Omuma Local Government Area in Rivers State and Igwe Eze (51) from Aguota in Anambra State, identified as the receiver of stolen items.
The police disclosed that the gang’s alleged leader, Bright Nwabueze, alias “Bishop” (53), was intercepted at the Rumuokoro flyover, where officers seized two rifles from his vehicle, providing a key link in unraveling the network allegedly responsible for the heist.
Exhibits recovered so far by the command include a 30KVA generator, inverter batteries, multiple rifles and other items suspected to have been stolen during the incident. Some of the recovered goods were traced to secondary buyers, prompting broader efforts to identify and detain all individuals involved in receiving and fencing stolen property.
The state Police Commissioner, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, commended the operatives for their determination and operational tenacity, underscoring the command’s commitment to ensuring Port Harcourt and wider Rivers State remain hostile terrain for armed criminals. He appealed to members of the public to continue providing credible information to support ongoing investigations.
The arrests come amid intensified policing strategies and intelligence sharing among security agencies in Rivers State, aimed at stemming violent crimes including armed robbery, kidnapping and cult‑related violence. Authorities say that the investigation remains active and warn that further arrests are expected as detectives pursue additional leads.
The suspects are currently in custody at the state police headquarters, where they are expected to be formally charged before the courts once the investigation is concluded.
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