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.

Akhigbe said he was outraged that some people could obstruct policemen from carrying out their constitutional responsibility.

He said the situation would not have gone out of hand if the suspects had agreed to follow the policemen to the station to explain what they knew of the allegation levelled against them.

He said, "I went to the place around 4pm on the fateful day to fix my car when I saw a large crowd. and I went to the scene. I was told that the mechanics did not allow the policemen to arrest any of their members.

" I tried to make peace by urging the leadership of the village to bring some people to accompany the suspects to the station, they refused.

"Then I sensed that the matter would go out of hand if there was no reinforcement. I had to call the DPO.

"The DPO led a team to the park and was able to arrest the situation. The police team rescued our men and arrested eight persons, including Obum, while other attackers escaped."

He said it was disappointing that members of the public and people at the village could obstruct the police from carrying out their duties.

He urged the members of the public to desist from such acts, saying it was not the civilised thing to do.

Akhigbe said the arrested persons would soon be charged to court.