Boy, 14, leads robbery gang
CITIZENS COMPASS —A 14 years old boy has been arrested while a pistol was recovered from him in Rivers State
A vigilante group in Rivers State carried out tje operation that led to the arrest of the boy who was said to be robbing residents of Ikwerre Road in the Mile 1 axis of Diobu in Port Harcourt when he was arrested.
The local vigilante, known as Diobu Security Services which disclosed this to newsmen said the boy (name withheld) allegedly led a three-man criminal during the operation on Sunday night.
The Commander, Diobu Security Service, Prince Amatari, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Amatari explained that the boy’s arrest followed a distress call put across by residents of the area to the vigilante that some miscreants were dispossessing them of cash and other valuables along Ikwerre Street by Emenike when his men swooped on them.
He further disclosed that on sighting them, two of the criminals fled, but luck ran out for the 14-year-old who was nabbed.
The vigilante Commander said, “If a boy of 14 years can have the mind to rob residents with a pistol it tells you how the society is now.
“The victims said their money, clothes and mobile phones were collected by the criminals. I spoke with the suspect and he said it was hunger that pushed him into crime.
” Then I asked him at age 14 you are not talking about hunger, are you not supposed to be in school?
“He now said he doesn’t have money to train himself in school and that is why he joined an armed robbery gang.”
Amatari added that the suspect was later handed over to the Mile 1 Police Station in Port Harcourt, the state Capital.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson, Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, were unsuccessful as she did not answer calls put across to her by our correspondent.
Also, she had yet to reply to a text message sent to her as of the time of filing this report on Tuesday.