ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Vigilante Security Service has apprehended four suspects, including a popular phone repairer, for buying a phone that was allegedly stolen at gunpoint in Yenagoa.
The Chairman, BSVSC, Mr Doubiye Alagba, on Sunday in Yenagoa, gave the names of the suspects as Audu John, Dominic Diezibe, James Believe and David Emmanuel.
He said the victim, Mr. Lawrence Oworodo, was robbed of his phone and belongings at gunpoint in Yenagoa.
Alagba said based on tip off, the vigilance group traced the mobile phone to Audu John in Biogbolo area of the state capital.
He invariably said Audu was able to give useful information that led to the arrest of other suspects, who were subsequently handed them over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
Alagba said: “We picked interest in this case because the owner of the phone was robbed at gun point. One of the challenges we face in the streets of Yenagoa today is pocket crime.
“I call it pocket crime, because these criminals go about with these locally-made pistols to steal valuables from innocent citizens who go about their normal daily hustles.
“These four suspects where arrested through the help of a phone tracking device. The phone was tracked to one Audu John, who resides at Biogbolo, Yenagoa, who led us to the arrest of others including a popular phone repairer in Amarata, Mr. David Emmanuel.
“I am using this medium to call on members of the public to be wary of the phones they buy in the name of ‘London used phone’. Investigations and cases of phone snatching we have handled were bought through these means.
“We have handed them over to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Bayelsa State Police Command for further investigation.”
Mobile phone number of the spokesman for the command, Asinim Butswat, failed to connect when called for confirmation of the development.