Police nab robbery kingpin over Rivers' explosion

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a suspect in connection with the explosion along the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway on June 25, 2024.

The 40-year-old suspect, Preye Josiah, alias Metusah, a native of the Kabiama community of Sagbama Local Council of Bayelsa State, was revealed as the mastermind of the explosion.

The Police Command said Josiah, who sustained severe injuries during the incident, has been undergoing treatment and has made significant progress after undergoing three major surgeries.

According to the spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, investigations have uncovered Josiah’s notorious past as a critical player in high-profile bank robberies led by Daniel Gogo, alias Full Payment, between 2012 and 2016.

She said he was identified as the dynamite expert of the gang and was evasive to police arrest until his arrest.

According to her, the police recovered a cache of weapons and explosives, including three AK-47 rifles, a Lar rifle, 360 rounds of live ammunition, 20 magazines, five dynamites, two pistols, rifle servicing equipment, and three exotic cars linked to Josiah’s criminal activities.

She disclosed that Josiah, a member of the Vikings Confraternity, confessed to the crime and will soon be charged with it in a court of competent jurisdiction after investigations are completed.

Similarly, Iringe-Koko confirmed the explosion at the All Peoples Party (APP) secretariat in Tombia Extension, Government Reserved Area (GRA) Phase 2, Port Harcourt, on August 12, 2024.

She said the detonation of an explosive device caused it, but thankfully, no lives were lost.

However, damage was done to the front of the building.