A police inspector, Yerima Habila, has explained how he disarmed a three-man armed robbery gang who waylaid him while returning from church in Onne, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Habila who disclosed that he came to Rivers from MOPOL 6, PMF Maiduguri, Borno State Command said he encountered the hoodlums when he packed his car to answer a call on his way back from Church.
He said, “It was on a Sunday evening, November 13, 2022, when I closed from church. I was going back to Onne where I reside.
“Opposite the Onne market, I packed my car to receive a call. Immediately I packed, and the next thing, I saw three men surround me with the gun.
“They asked me to give them everything I have. I gave them N200, 000 I had in my car. The one that pointed the gun at me said I should give him my handset (mobile telephone).
“I was about to give him the handset, I now discover that the hand he used to hold the trigger was disengaged to collect the handset. That was how I came out of my car, fought him and was able to disarm him. Then the other two ran away.”
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Okon Effiong, shortly after receiving the seized rifle from Inspector Habila commended him for his courage, saying a system that has sanctions must also have a reward.
Effiong said the action of the cop was a show of courage and bravery, saying he did well.
“Therefore, while we send his recommendation to the Inspector General of Police, at our level it is important that we reward him. On behalf of the command, we are going to give a CP commendation and a cash reward of N200,000,” he said.
Effiong explained that the cash gift was symbolic, saying the command was simply rewarding gallantry and dedication to duty, even as he expressed the hope that the gesture would spur others to even achieve greater feats.
“You will agree with me that what he did was like embarking on a suicide mission. He did not only fight them, he disarmed them of their rifles,” the CP said.
He stressed the need for operatives, especially those in the tactical unit to be trained in unarmed combat in addition to their weekly and monthly training to enable them to defend themselves when the need arises.
“If we have such training, it will minimize the rate at which people abandon their rifles and take to their heels. So we should encourage our personnel to defend themselves,” Effiong added.
