Posted by By Emmanuel Ogoigbe, Warri on
A police officer who allegedly fought some robbers to a standstill and recovered N78 million from them, has made history again as he has nabbed two fleeing thieves and recovered N400,000 from them.
A police officer who allegedly fought some robbers to a standstill and recovered N78 million from them, has made history again as he has nabbed two fleeing thieves and recovered N400,000 from them.
Identified as Iwok Ndifreke, an Inspector of Police, the officer was alleged to have single-handed engaged armed robbers who hijacked a bullion van in June 2006 and recovered N78 million.
Similarly, Iwok, in a recent operation, was reacting to a distress call, following an armed robbery operation along Okpe road, Sapele, Delta State and promptly moved to stop the robbers.
Daily Sun learnt that the bandits had successfully gained entrance into the residence of their victim, a lady (names withheld) and were already feasting on the huge amount of money and other valuables worth thousands of Naira, which they found in the house when Inspector Iwok and his team stormed the scene.
It was gathered that on sighting the police team, the hoodlums opened fire but response from the police put a sour taste in the mouths of the bandits who immediately fled the area. Two of the robbers were not too lucky as they were apprehended.
The Police identified the robbers as Richard Eboh (20) and Williams Eboh (18).
Daily Sun learnt they are of the same parents.
Police also explained that the robbers confessed to the crime and volunteered to take them to their hide-out for the arrest of other members of the gang. However, on getting there, their partners-in-crime allegedly opened fire on the police but they fled as they could not withstand the smoking gun of the police, leaving behind N280, 000 which the victim identified to be the money meant for her Saw mill business.
Items recovered from the robbers include, three handsets, Sagem, Sony Ericson and Nokia. Others were one locally made single barrel gun and other.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ita Selong, a Superintendent of Police, said efforts were on to get the fleeing robbers arrested and vowed to rid Boma city of Sapele of bandits and undesirable elements.
Asked what motivated him to return the N78 million he retrieved from the robbers, Inspector Iwok told Daily Sun that the money does not belong to him, adding that it was criminal too to convert such money that does not belong to him.
He said after chasing away the robbers and discovering the money inside a bullion van owned by First Bank, he quickly return same to the DPO.
'We don't take what does not belong to us. We are well-trained officers who have conscience and fear of God. I am a young man with bright future and, I do believe that the sky is the limit for a hardworking, diligent and transparent officer", said the Akwa-Ibom state-born cop.
Asked to comment on why millions and thousands of naira recovered from criminals are not confiscated, Selong, who was reluctant to speak, said he would be a sad man if the money recovered was taken away by his officers.
'I am a kind of DPO who preaches peace, honesty and dedication to duty to my officers and men. They are hard working. Every Tuesday, I lecture them to be diligent and have the fear of God in their daily doings," said Superintendent Selong, stressing that it was based on his hard work that he got a commendation letter from the police commissioner, Prince Udom Ekpoudom last December.