Police Apprehend Alleged Killers Of Rivers Local Leader, Arrest Additional Five

Police Apprehend Alleged Killers Of Rivers Local Leader, Arrest Additional Five

Operatives from the Rivers State Police Command have neutralized four suspects linked to the brutal murder of Chief Ndidi Livingstone, the Community Development Council (CDC) Chairman of Mgbuoshimini Local Government Area. This announcement was made by the State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Port Harcourt on September 12, 2024.

CP Disu revealed that the suspects were members of a criminal gang led by the notorious cultist, Daddy Chukwu. Chukwu was tracked to his hideout in Delta State earlier this year and killed following Livingstone’s murder.

In addition, five other members of Chukwu’s gang were apprehended during an operation at one of their camps in Aluu village.

“On January 13, 2024, Chief Ndidi Livingstone was assassinated in front of his church, Peculiar Faith Ministries, Rumueme,” CP Disu recounted. “Four men stormed the church, dragged Livingstone out, and shot him four times with AK-47 rifles, all while his wife, son, and congregants watched. This heinous act was captured on video and went viral, causing widespread outrage.”

Following the incident, a specialized team from the FID-Intelligence Response Team and the Rivers State Command was formed to track down the perpetrators. The team successfully identified the four men seen in the video, including the mastermind, Peter Daddy Chukwu, who was killed on April 5, 2024, during an attempt to arrest him in Ibusa, Delta State.

CP Disu further detailed that the operation has led to the arrest of additional suspects connected to the assassination and their criminal network. Here are the profiles of some of the key suspects:

1. Nnamdi Emmanuel, 35, from Onicha LGA, Ebonyi State: Recently released from prison for burglary, Emmanuel joined various criminal gangs and was involved in armed robberies and kidnappings. He was involved in the murder of Chief Livingstone and was found with two AK-47 rifles, 141 rounds of ammunition, and 8 magazines.
2. John Lucas, 34, from Logoro LGA, Bauchi State: A former Lance Corporal dismissed for desertion, Lucas was involved in drug trafficking and other crimes before joining Chukwu’s gang. He was seen in the viral video firing the fatal shot that killed Chief Livingstone. Recovered from him were IEDs, military uniforms, five refrigerators, and a vehicle used during the murder.
3. Adebayo Adebayo, 48, from Ado Ekiti LGA, Ekiti State: Dismissed as a Sergeant from the Nigerian Army, Adebayo was recruited by Lucas for the assassination. He was apprehended while working as a Chief Security Officer in Kwale, Delta State.
4. Chimezie Adiele, 29, from Osisioma LGA, Abia State: Claimed to be a dismissed Lance Corporal, Adiele was involved in armed robbery and was recruited for the operation that included the murder of Chief Livingstone.
5. Ogolo Promise, 25, from Opobo/Nkoro LGA, Rivers State: A former member of the De-glam cult group, Promise was the gang’s armourer and was involved in bank tracing operations. He was found with two assault rifles and a pistol.

Additional suspects include Chigemezu Anochirimoya, Success Oge, Ifeanyi Nwadike, and Sunday GodsPower, each with their own criminal backgrounds and ties to the gang.

During an operation to recover weapons from one of the suspects’ camps in Pipeline, Aluu village, police came under heavy gunfire from suspected gang members. The suspects were eventually overpowered and taken to UPTH, where they were confirmed dead.

The police have recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition, including 2 AK-47 rifles, 1 assault rifle, 2 SMG rifles, 1 shotgun, 10 magazines, 150 rounds of live ammunition, and 1 pistol.

Efforts are ongoing to apprehend additional suspects linked to Daddy Chukwu’s network and recover more weapons, according to the CP.