The Inspector-General of Police’s office filed the case, and His Worship Abubakar Umar Sai’id is the presiding judge. The Chief Magistrate Court in Kuje, Abuja, granted N500,000 bail to Abia State Representative Alex Ikwechegh after he was captured on camera attacking Bolt driver Stephen Abuwatseya. Ikwechegh was charged with three counts during Wednesday’s court appearance, which included assault, threat of death, and abuse of office. The Inspector-General of Police’s office filed the case, and His Worship Abubakar Umar Sai’id is the presiding judge. READ ALSO Ikewechegh entered a not guilty plea to the allegations when he appeared in court. His attorney applied for bail orally, and it was approved by His Honor the memory of Abubakar Umar Sai’id. In addition to two sureties in the same amount, his bail was set at N500,000. The sureties must be residents of the court’s jurisdiction and be able to prove their residency with utility bills. After that, the case was postponed until November 8.
The Rivers State police command has successfully dismantled a kidnapping gang notorious for setting up illegal roadblocks along the Port Harcourt-Owerri Road to abduct passengers. According to the new Police Commissioner, Mustapha Bala, the gang’s method involved stopping motorists at gunpoint, taking hostages, and demanding ransom. On October 17, 2024, two suspects were arrested by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, and the gang leader was captured on October 19 in Egbeda. The suspects have confessed to their involvement in kidnapping, and their arrest was made possible through intelligence gathering. Investigations are ongoing to apprehend other accomplices and recover their weapons. This operation is expected to bring relief to travelers on the busy Port Harcourt-Owerri Road, a key route connecting the South-South region to states like Imo, Anambra, and Lagos. The police believe this gang was responsible for the recent abduction of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member and two others along the Elele/Omerelu axis. The police assured the public of their heightened efforts to maintain safety on the expressway, urging citizens to report suspicious activities. In addition to this success, two coordinated raids at Elechi Beach and Nanka waterfront targeted criminal hideouts, leading to the arrest of an armed robber and the recovery of weapons, ammunition, and a stolen vehicle. Other operations were also carried out in Mogho, Gokana LGA, as the police continue their crackdown on criminal gangs in the region.

