A three-man gang of suspected armed robbers was arrested by a vigilante group in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, after they dispossessed a female student of the Abia State University of her valuables and attempted to rape her on Sunday.
The vigilante group, known as the Diobu Security Service at the Rumu-Elechii Mile Three, said the incident occurred about 8pm when the hoodlums intercepted the lady at gunpoint along Elechi Street, Port Harcourt, snatched her hand bag, mobile phone and about N50,000 in her possession.
The Chief Security Officer, Diobu Security Services in Rumu-Elechi, Godstime Ihunwo, who confirmed on Monday, said the hoodlums we’re dragging the student into a corner, possibly to rape her when he received a distress call from residents.
“I received a distress call from residents of Elechi by National Street that robbers were robbing a lady and I quickly rushed to the scene with my men and arrested three of them and rescued the victim.
“Her name is Chioma Otoonye She said she came from Abia State to visit a friend in Port Harcourt when this incident happened. I have handed them over to the police for further investigation and prosecution,” Ihunwo explained.
Also, speaking on the incident, Chairman of the Diobu Security Service, Prince Amatari, said the suspects were with a pistol, which he said the suspects threw into drainage on sighting the vigilantes.
Speaking to newsmen, the student, Chioma Otoonye, said she was intercepted by the gang shortly after arriving Port Harcourt to visit a friend.
“On my way to Mile Three at Elechi, by the National Street, three guys blocked me, pointed a gun at me beat me up and made away with my belongings.
“They even attempted to rape me. Thank God for the vigilante in charge of Diobu that came to my rescue, arrested the robbers and recovered my belongings.”
When contacted, spokesman for the state police command, Nnamdi Omoni, said he would reach out to the appropriate police division and get back to our correspondent, but had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.
PUNCH