Police in Rivers State have arrested 13 suspected criminals following an attack on journalist Allwell Ene during an investigative assignment. The incident occurred along the Olu-Obasanjo axis in Port Harcourt, an area known for criminal activity. Police spokesperson ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Monday.
Ene was physically assaulted by suspected hoodlums while recording footage in the area. He was rescued by officers from the Olu-Obasanjo Division after the Divisional Police Officer deployed a team to restore order. The Police Command launched a joint operation that led to the arrest of the 13 suspects, who are linked to phone snatching and harassment of residents.
According to Kaborlo, Commissioner of Police CP Olugenga Adewole Adepoju initiated a full investigation after inviting Ene to provide a firsthand account. Preliminary findings confirmed the attack took place in a location repeatedly flagged as a criminal black spot. Investigations are ongoing, with efforts underway to apprehend other members of the syndicate.
The Commissioner advised journalists and private investigators against conducting solo operations in high-risk areas. He urged collaboration with security agencies and encouraged the public to share credible information. The Rivers State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and continuing anti-crime operations.
The police say they are cracking down on criminals in Port Harcourt even as their own statement reveals a journalist was left vulnerable enough to be attacked in a known black spot. If the area is so dangerous that the Commissioner now warns reporters not to operate alone, why are residents still being forced to live there without sustained protection? The arrests came only after a journalist was assaulted, not because of prior action to safeguard the community. This pattern of reactive policing puts ordinary people at continued risk.
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