By Paulinus Nta, A’Ibom |
The Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has recently made significant strides in combating crime within the state.
In a series of operations, the command raided an armed robbery syndicate’s den in Uyo, arrested five suspects, and recovered suspected stolen items.
Addressing the press in Uyo, Commissioner of Police (CP), Waheed Ayilara detailed the command’s activities over the past month.
He disclosed that the suspects, who had been terrorising Uyo, were apprehended while attempting to sell stolen items.
The arrested individuals include Emmanuel Ekpenyong Bassey (20), Saviour Etim Bassey (24), Emem Christopher Charles (23), Elijah Solomon Obot (21), and Etiuwem Christian Etim (22), all from Uyo Local Government Area.
Recovered items from the suspects include a locally-made pistol, a Sumec Fireman generator, two LG flat screen televisions, three LG speakers, a Zinox laptop, a 6kg gas cylinder, a Gionee phone, a Huawei phone, a Tecno Android phone, and a Tecno button phone.
Ayilara noted that the syndicate comprises 15 members, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects.
In another operation, the command arrested three individuals, Napiu Ibrahim (19), Meron Selitima (22), and Abdul Abubakar (22)—for vandalising high tension electric cables in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area.
A bag containing high tension cables was recovered from them.
On July 12, 2024, police on routine patrol in Uyo arrested Daniel Edem Okon (23) and Samaila Salisu (20) after a rigorous interrogation revealed that Okon had murdered a commercial cyclist on July 11, 2024, stolen his motorcycle, and buried his body in a shallow grave.
The decomposed body of the victim, identified as Saviour Anthony Effiong (45), was exhumed and deposited at a morgue.
On July 15, 2024, Mrs. Eunice Eze (56) was arrested for operating a baby factory at World Bank Estate in Owerri, Imo State.
Eze was involved in stealing babies and pregnant women from Akwa Ibom State through her agent, Ability Henry Tom. Ten pregnant women were rescued during the operation.
Additionally, on July 5, 2024, a distress call from a tricycle rider led to the recovery of a snatched tricycle and the arrest of Wisdom James Udom and Timothy Edem Ekpenyong, who confessed to being members of the Vikings confraternity.
A motorcycle and machetes used in their operations were recovered.
Further, on June 23, 2024, police arrested seven suspects at the Ibom Tropicana Complex for stealing 61 armoured doors and 42 timbers.
The suspects were Engr. Udofia Jonah (56), Ekerette David Sunday (30), Ukpe Aniebiet Ita (25), Moses Ita Etim (26), Inyene Joseph James, Ekaette I. Nkrok (42), and Aniefiok John Friday (27).
In another successful operation, the police arrested four suspects, Ugwem Ijah Nteilie (24), Frank Frank (25), Morris Possible (21), and Nura Idris (26), for burglary and stealing equipment from Eastern Obolo General Hospital.
Items recovered included seven air conditioner compressors, three plasma televisions, three refrigerators, seven compressors from stolen fridges, and one refrigerator.
Collaborating with sister security agencies, the command also apprehended vandals responsible for damaging electric transformers and communication masts in Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.
The arrested suspects include Chinedu Divine Nweke, Kingsley James, Nnanna Uchendu, Kelechi Chima, Goodluck Amasi, and Ikechi Nwauju, all residents of Rivers State.
