The Police in Bayelsa on Wednesday arrested 32 suspects in connection with an attempt to raze the palace of the traditional ruler of Oruma Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Hillary Okpara, told newsmen that 14 of the suspects were apprehended for alleged cultism while 18 others were arrested over the alleged attempt to burn the palace of the traditional ruler.
“These arsonists plotted to raze the palace over allegations bordering on mismanagement of oil money belonging to the community. They were on their way to execute the plot when a team of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) rounded them up.”
He commended the squad for thwarting the planned arson and called on the public to give timely and useful information to the police to effective crime prevention, adding that the command had arrested two notorious suspected robbery kingpins, who had been on the wanted list of the police.
He said that the feat was achieved following sustained raid of the Swali area of Yenagoa by the state anti-robbery squad, adding that the area had been turned in to a criminal hideout by hoodlums.
“The SARS has been doing a nice job. It has been sanitising Swali. Right from time, the area has been notorious. The area has been giving us problems especially with the completion of the market and the subsequent allocation of stalls by government to traders who refused to occupy them.
“So, hoodlums converted the place to a safe haven from where they operate. But we raid there every night. That is why the place is a bit sanitise. Generally speaking, the town is safe. There are night clubs booming and people are moving around without molestation.”
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