In #NIgeria: Alleged fraudsters resist arrest, ‘detain’ policemen

There was a mild drama at the Mechanic Village, Tombia, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, as alleged fraudsters resisted arrest and instead ‘detained’ two policemen detailed to effect their arrest.

The policemen from Akenfa Police Division on the outskirts of Yenagoa, had gone to the area with a...

complainant, Mr. Frederick Ojukwu, and a witness, Mr. Ebi Ozegbe, over an alleged N140, 000 fraud.

It was learnt that the complainant, a restaurateur, gave the suspects the N140,000 as a deposit for a second-hand vehicle.

Ojukwu was said to have given out the money with the understanding that after inspecting the vehicle, he would pay the balance.

It was gathered that the suspects, led by a man, identified simply as Obum, had shown the complainant a rickety vehicle, said to be good only for the museum, which Ojukwu rejected and demanded his deposit back.

The suspects were said to have agreed to pay him (Ojukwu) back, but after the encounter, they allegedly went at large for months, leaving the complainant in a confusion.

Luck was said to have run out on the alleged fraudsters when information got to the complainant that they had resurfaced at the mechanic village.

Ojukwu was said to have contacted Ozegbe, a journalist, and they went to Akenfa Police Station to lodge a complaint.

At the station, Ojukwu and Ozegbe, were given two policemen to accompany them to the park to arrest the suspects.

It was learnt that as soon as they accosted the suspects, the suspects grabbed the four in collaboration with other people, and gave them the beating of their lives.

The suspects and their collaborators were said to have tore the uniforms of the policemen, seized the phones of the complainant and the journalist and later held the policemen hostage for a few hours.

It was learnt that the presence of the Public Relations Officer of the Bayelsa command, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, who had gone there to fix his car, did not assuage the mob to allow the policemen to carry out their duties.

An eyewitness, who wished to be anonymous for safety reason, said, “The four, including the two policemen, could have been lynched if not for the timely intervention of the police reinforcement, led by the Divisional Police Officer of Akenfa.

It was learnt that the team succeeded in freeing their colleagues and arrested of some of the mobsters.

The PPRO, Akhigbe, confirmed the incident.

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