By JIMITOTA Onoyume

Port Harcourt — The Rivers State Police Command, yesterday, released 275 persons, suspected to be members of Boko Haram.

They were among the 294 suspects arrested in the early hours of Sunday by the Police at the border between the state and Imo State.

Head of the Criminal Investigation Department, CID, of the Police Command in the state, Mr. Sam Okaula, said 19 of the suspects were held back to be thoroughly investigated because they could not give convincing reason on why they were in the state.

Okaula said 294 persons were arrested. He said the Police had to release the 275 after it established that they were doing legitimate business in the state.

Okaula said the Police acted on a tip-off.

He said: “On the night of January 24, the Commissio-ner of Police received alarming information that members of Boko Haram were being massively transported to Rivers State, particularly Port Harcourt from certain parts of the country for the purpose of causing havoc.

“As it were, such information cannot be taken lightly, hence all DPOs, Area Commanders and operatives were alerted to be vigilant by the Commissioner of Police.

‘’On January 26, the DPO of Nkpolu and Oyigbo Division intercepted 17 vehicles and arrested 294 suspects.”