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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
“SP Chris Nwaogbo and his men at Operation ‘Puff Adder’ have displayed utmost commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of their duties which is unprecedented in the history of policing in Bayelsa State.”
This was part of the reason why the Bayelsa State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in agreement with the practicing journalists in the state, decided to honour him during NUJ’s Press Week Award 2023.
Some of the achievements recorded, despite the fact that it has been well recorded and reported by the members of the NUJ, include the recent arrest of the so-called Celebrity Kidnappers that have been kidnapping managers of new generation banks in Yenagoa, rescue of Chief Nitabai Inengite (the cousin of former President and Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Gooduck Jonathan), who was abducted on February 23, 2014 by ten armed men.
Other achievements include the arrest of five suspects who kidnapped the son of Hon. Nengi Talbort named Anthonio Talbort and subsequent rescue of the boy. Nengi Talbort is the state vice chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Bayelsa State. The arrest of the kidnappers who kidnapped Madam Beauty Nimizue and her subsequent rescue. She is the mother of the immediate past chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Area.
Also the arrest of the kidnappers and rescue of the wife of a business mogul who deals on electronics in the state, which incident occurred on January 29, 2020. Also, the arrest of the suspect who killed husband and wife and two others in a church in Azikoro Yenagoa, wherein one AK 49 rifle was recovered.
According to the NUJ, the achievements also include the arrest of the armed robbers who have been going from one bank to the other in Yenagoa robbing customers after making withdrawals from the said banks. The customers will be disposed of their money, and in most cases the robbers kill the owners of the money. Arms like AK 47 rifles were recovered from them and they are being prosecuted in the law court.
“Another case to also remember was the killing of eleven policemen at Lobia Community on their way to Azuzuma Community to perform special duty for the burial of the mother of an ex-militant leader named (The Young Shall Grow). The commander and his team took it upon themselves and arrested all the culprits and were made to face the wrath of the law.
“Speaking about the commander and his achievements are things that can never finish as many cases are there to refer to but due to time factor, we decided to just take a few for reference purposes and that is the reason why we have decided to honour / appreciate him today for keeping our young state safe and as far as fighting crime and criminality is concerned.
“It was gathered that the anti-kidnapping squad, in which they served, under the then commissioner of Police Hillary Okpara, who is now a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, their achievements brought them accolades and recommendation for automatic promotions, which has not been fulfilled to these gallant men.”
The media practitioners in the state called on the Inspector- General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to approve the recommendation of the former Bayelsa Commissioner of Police and retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Hillary Okpara on automatic promotion to next rank of the men of the former Anti-kidnapping squad and now, the personnel of the Operation Puff Adder.
Many residents who spoke with Port Harcourt Mundial expressed joy that though the new outfit may be in need of logistics to carry out their assignment, ”the people of the state can now sleep with their two eyes closed, and call on the state government to show concern and provide the needed vehicles for easy operations and protect the lives and property of the people.”
