By ERIC MOORE
THE Rivers State Police Command has disclosed that it has neutralized four gang members who participated in the gruesome murder of the Community Development Council (CDC) Chairman of Mgbuoshimini, Ndidi Livingstone, on January 13, 2024, in front of his church, the Peculiar Faith Ministries, Rumueme, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
State Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, in a press briefing on Thursday, said they were neutralized in a crossfire between the Police and members of their gang.
Disu recalled that in the operation, four men stormed the church, dragged the victim out and murdered him, shooting the CDC chairman four times with AK-47 rifles, in the presence of his wife, son and congregants of the church.
The Rivers Police chief said he directed a team of operatives of the FID-Intelligence Response Team and the Rivers State Command on a nationwide manhunt for the killers and the special team identified the four men in a viral video that captured the killing, including the mastermind of the assassination, Peter Daddy Chukwu, who was gunned down to a hideout in Ibusa, Delta State, on April 5, 2024.
The Police boss said the mastermind’s attempt to resist arrest led to his death.
Disu stated that the unrelenting manhunt for the perpetrators seen shooting and killing the deceased in the viral video has now led to the arrest of the three other persons directly responsible for the assassination and six more persons belonging to their criminal network.
The CP gave the names of the arrested suspects as Nnamdi Emmanuel, alias BYC (35 years) from Onicha LGA, Ebonyi State. He shot the late Ndidi Livingstone on the foot on the day he was killed.
Another suspect named John Lucas (34) years from Logoro LGA, Bauchi State, claimed to be a dismissed Lance Corporal from the Nigeria Army for desertion in 2014.
Police said Lucas was seen in the viral video taking the final shot that killed Chief Livingstone.
He disclosed that Lucas also operated a gang that specialised in recruiting guns for hire for his criminal activities.
Items recovered from him were IEDs, numerous military uniforms, five Skyrun refrigerators and the Black Highlander vehicle used on the day Livingstone was murdered.
Also arrested was Adebayo Adebayo (48 years) from Ado Ekiti LGA, Ekiti State. He claimed to be dismissed as a Sergeant from the Nigeria Army in 2019.
He told Police that John Lucas recruited him to join in the assassination of Livingstone. He was seen in the video wearing a special forces shirt.
Police said after the Force declared a manhunt for him, the suspect became a journeyman moving from one state to another seeking to evade arrest, but this did not deter the Police as he was traced to every state.
He said: “Thinking that he had escaped the reach of the Police, he eventually settled down in Kwale, Delta State where he got employed as a Chief Security Officer (CSO) of a Waste Management Company. He was apprehended while on duty at his new place of work.”
Chimezie Adiele ‘m’ 29 years from Osisioma LGA, Abia State. He too claimed to be a dismissed Lance Corporal from the Nigerian Army.
He was also recruited by John Lucas for the armed robbery operation where 56 Skyrun refrigerators were stolen. His share of the loot was four refrigerators.
Ogolo Promise ‘m’ 25 years from Opobo/Nkoro LGA, Rivers State. He was a member of the deadly De-gbam cult group who rose through the ranks to become the group’s armourer.
Recovered from him were two Assault Rifles and a pistol.
Chigemezu Anochirimoyanya ‘m’ 29 years from Mbaitoli LGA, Imo State. He is a minibus driver who uses his vehicle to perpetuate kidnappings for various gangs.
Success Oge ‘m’ 39 years from Umuahia LGA, Abia State. He was arrested for stealing Chigemezu’s vehicle. He has also been involved in various kidnappings and most of his gang members have been arrested.
Ifeanyi Nwadike ‘m’ 30 years from Emuoha LGA Rivers. He was also remanded in Prison. He was involved in kidnapping/carjacking alongside Chigemezu in January, 2024, where they snatched a red Toyota Camry in Oyigbo LGA.
After he was arrested, an Assault rifle and three rounds of live ammunition were recovered from him.
Sunday Godspower ‘m’ 33 years alias 2baba, from Sii village in Khana LGA of Rivers State. He was a close associate of Peter Chukwu and was also identified as one of the killers of another traditional leader of Mgbuoshimini, Chief Minikwu Chukwu, who was killed in broad daylight in 2017.
The Rivers Police boss explained that during the investigation, four of the suspects, John Lucas ‘m’, Nnamdi Emmanuel, m ‘, Ogolo Promise ‘m’ and Adebayo Adebayo ‘m’ led operatives to one of their camps at Pipeline, Aluu village, for the recovery of their cache of weapons.
According to CP, while approaching the camp, Police operatives came under heavy gunfire by hoodlums suspected to be fellow gang members.
CP Disu said the suspects attempted to escape in the ensuing ambush, but were caught in the crossfire.
“The hoodlums were eventually overpowered, and the suspects rushed to UPTH for medical attention. The doctor confirmed them dead, and they were deposited in the UPTH morgue for autopsy.
“The suspects will be charged in court as soon as investigations are concluded.”