By JIMITOTA ONOYUME

PORT HARCOURT — Rivers State Police Command has denied reports that it was under pressure to release the six suspects who were arrested by the Joint Task Force, JTF, weekend, in Ogu Bolo Local Government Area of the state and handed over to it for further investigation.

The JTF in the Niger Delta had arrested the six suspects for alleged illegal possession of fire arms. Among items recovered from them were AK 47 riffles and ammunition.

A statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Muhammad, yesterday, said the Police were yet to interrogate the suspects because the JTF had not handed over the weapons allegedly recovered from the suspects during the arrest.

The statement added that the Police only got a letter from 2 Brigade of JTF, Port Harcourt, on the arrest.

He said: “Rivers State Police command would like to inform the general public that at 2030 hours on January 3, 2014, the command received a  letter from the 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, on the arrest of some suspects, alleging that the men were in possession of seven AK 47 rifles and ammunition. Neither the arms nor ammunition were handed over to the Police.

“The Commander of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Mr. Tunji Disu, is still waiting for the transfer of the exhibits before he can commence interrogation. The police do not rush into conclusion, but carry out discreet investigation before making things public. The Command, hereby, debunks the insinuation, as reported, that it was under pressure from powers that be, to release the suspects. In essence, the statement is untrue, misleading and mischievous.”

Spokesman of the JTF in the region, Col. Onyema Nwanchukwu, could not be reached for comments as his phone rang out when Vanguard called.