Posted by The Port Harcourt Telegraph on
Police have raided Ateke's stronghold in Okrika, according to information reaching our news desk. The Telegraph was about going to bed Tuesday night when the publication's Editor-in-Chief received a call. The caller said there has been a police raid.
Police have raided Ateke's stronghold in Okrika, according to information reaching our news desk. The Telegraph was about going to bed Tuesday night when the publication's Editor-in-Chief received a call. The caller said there has been a police raid.
At once the Editor-in-Chief gave the order to stop press and abort an earlier cover meant for today's edition.
All of a sudden, the Telegraph had a breaking event on its lap
The time was 11.25 pm Nigerian time. Frantic efforts made to get to the image maker of the police, Mrs Juliet Barasua proved abortive.
Calls put across to her phone remained unanswered at about 11.30pm.
Obviously the police raid was not unconnected with Government's directive urging law enforcement agencies to arrest all those collected to the unrest that has threatened peace and security in the State.
A well placed security source had been asked by the Telegraph days ago what the response of the security apparatus would be.
He had said on that occasion that the police were on the trail of the trouble makers who dared in peace time to turn Port Harcourt into a shooting range.
For a while security had been trying to catch up with either the Vigilante leader, Ateke Tom or his boys who may have been allegedly connected with the latest disturbances in some parts of the Garden City.
The second but last fighting which occurred on a Sunday had been the worst since the latest cult wars began and several innocent persons regrettably died in the cross fire.
An enraged government swung into action.
Many had alleged in the past government may have a relationship with the Vigilante.
But in so far as government was concerned, going by what we have heard anybody acting in bridge of the peace had made itself an enemy.
Besides, government had said repeatedly it had nothing to do with cult gangs.
At last, the opportunity had offered it self and government was more than ready to prove the point, it could have no such friends.
In the early hours of Tuesday at about 3.00am, according to one dependable source, the operation began.
The police stormed Ateke's stronghold.
At least 13 persons were picked up but seven were allegedly connected to the killing of Senibo George, the basic reason for which Soboma George who had been standing trial for the murder of Fiberesima broke out of jail.
Ateke was not there when the police apprehended the alleged killers of Senibo.
Police sources reached after attempts to get the image maker of the force failed said some of those caught had questions to answer.