Mkpoikana Udoma
11 August 2018, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Pathfinder in Port Harcourt, says it has arrested four suspected sea pirates alone Iwofe waterfront in Rumuolumeni, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Base Operating Officer, NNS Pathfinder, Commander Ikenna Okolagu, while parading the suspects told newsmen that the suspects are responsible for the recent increase in crime rate around Rumuolumeni waterways in Port Harcourt.
Okolagu said the four suspects who confessed to being members of a secret cult group, would be handed over to the Nigerian Police Force for further investigation and prosecution.
He explained that items recovered from the suspects include, one locally made pistol, four live cartridges, cannabis, phones, and tramadol.
According to him, “At about 0845hours on Wednesday, 08 August 2018, four suspected sea robbers who are also members of the dreaded Dey-Gbam cult were arrested at Iwofe waterfront by one of the base patrol element.
“During the investigation, they confessed to being members of the Dey-Gbam cult. The four suspects are hereby handed over to the Nigerian police, to enable them to conduct further with the view to possible prosecution.”
Some of the suspects including a 22year old Matthew Lekan, told newsmen that he bought his first gun while in secondary school, three years ago.
“When I was in SS3, I was initiated into the Dey-Gbam cult by friends of mine. Most of them used to carry arms, they used machetes to beat me to join them and fortify myself. So I saved some money up to N15,000 and bought a gun.”