Akwa Ibom State Police Command has declared that its new strategies aimed at combating evolving crimes have started yielding fruits with remarkable achievements recorded.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Waheed Ayilara, made the declaration on Monday at a press briefing in Uyo, the state capital.
According to him, the adoption of the new strategies was part of the efforts to make Akwa Ibom State stable and remain one of the most peaceful in the country.
His words: “We have adopted new strategies in fighting evolving crimes and criminalities in order to ensure that Akwa Ibom State is stable and remains one of the most peaceful States in the country.
“Our adopted strategies have yielded positive results…”
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The Commissioner of Police, while expressing gratitude over the support the command has enjoyed from state government, sister security agencies and members of the public, said continuous collaboration would make the state safer and peaceful.
The commissioner enumerated some of the major achievement of the command.
His words: “1. ARREST OF SUSPECTED KIDNAPPER/RECOVERY OF FIREARMS: Operatives of the Command through credible information and a painstaking investigation recovered firearms and ammunition used by a notorious kidnapping syndicate led by a wanted kidnapper, one Ubong Effiong Archibong a.k.a Condiment. The kidnapping syndicate is responsible for the kidnapping and killing of several persons. The said firearms were recovered at a private mortuary being used as the armoury at Ekeya, Okobo L.G.A. The firearms are: Two (2) AK-47 Rifles, Two (2) G3 Rifles, One (1) Double Barrel Rifle, One (1) Single Barrel Rifle, Five (5) Magazines and Seven (7) Live Ammunitions.
“2. ARREST OF SUSPECTED RAPIST: on 20/7/2024 at about 3:15pm, a National Youth Service Corps member residing at Ukana Iba village in Essien Udim reported that at about 3:00am one Paul Samuel Edu 44yrs (her landlord’s son) came knocking at her door. That on opening the door, the said Paul brandished her with a machete, directed her to follow him to his room for a talk or else he would harm her. On reaching the suspect’s room, he bolted the door, tore her clothes and had carnal knowledge without her consent. Suspect was arrested, one matchete and a slaughter knife was recovered from him. Investigation is ongoing.
“3. ARREST OF SUSPECTS FOR VANDALIZATION AND STEALING: On the 23rd of June, 2024, relying on information at Command’s disposal, that a group of thieves invaded Ibom Tropicana Complex, broke into its warehouse and stole some items therein. Operatives of the Command immediately swung into action and arrested the following Suspects;
- Engr. Udofia Jonah age 56yrs
- Ekerette David Sunday ‘m’ age 30yrs
III. Ukpe Aniebiet Ita ‘m’ age 25yrs
- Moses Ita Etim ‘m’ age 26yrs
- Inyene Joseph James ‘m’
- Ekaette I. Nkrok ‘f’ age 42yrs
VII. Aniefiok John Friday ‘m’ age 27yrs, and also recovered Sixty one (61) armoured doors and Forty-Two (42) timbers which were to be conveyed out of the State.
“4. VANDALIZATION/STEALING: Through credible intelligence and discreet investigation, Operatives of the Command arrested one Ugwem Ijah Nteilie ‘m’ age 24yrs , Frank Frank ‘m’ age 25yrs, Morris Possible ‘m’ age 21yrs and Nura Idris ‘m’ age 26yrs for burglary and stealing of Eastern Obolo General Hospital equipment. Items recovered from the suspects include; seven (7) Air Conditioners compressors, three (3) Plasma televisions, three (3) refrigerators, seven (7) compressors from stolen fridges, three (3) plasma television sets and one refrigerator. Effort is ongoing to recover other stolen items.
“5. ARREST OF SUSPECTED VANDALS: Through intelligence led operation, Operatives of the Command in partnership with sister Security-Agencies arrested vandals responsible for vandalizing most of the Electric Transformers and Communication Mast within Akwa Ibom and Rivers States respectively. Suspects were arrested and they include; one Chinedu Divine Nweke, Kingsley James, Nnanna Uchendu, Kelechi Chima, Goodluck Amasi and Ikechi Nwauju, all Residents of Rivers State. Further investigations revealed that the suspects were on the verge of vandalizing another transformer at Ikot Inyang-Ator in Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. A Nissan Primera vehicle, one Gasoline Oxygen and spanners were recovered from them. Meanwhile suspects confessed to the crime and admitted that they are responsible for vandalizing different Transformers in Ojor village, MTN Communication Mast located at Efemibon village and Airtel Comm. Mast at Ikot Idiong Etor village. Suspects will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.
“6. ARREST OF VANDALS: Acting on credible information that some vandals were pulling down high tension electric cables along Eastern Obolo L.G.A., Operatives of the Command arrested one Napiu Ibrahim ‘m’ age 19yrs, Melon Selitima ‘m’ age 22yrs and Abdul Abubbakar ‘m’ age 22yrs. A bag containing high tension cables was recovered from the suspects. Suspects will have their day in court.
“7. ARREST OF SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBERY SYNDICATES: Following intelligence report that an armed robbery syndicate terrorizing Uyo metropolis were selling out their stolen/looted items, Operatives of the Command mobilized to the scene and arrested one Emmanuel Ekpenyong Bassey ‘m’ aged 20yrs, Saviour Etim Bassey ‘m’ aged 24yrs, Emem Christopher Charles ‘m’ aged 23yrs, Elijah Solomon Obot ‘m’ aged 21yrs and Etiuwem Christian Etim ‘m’ aged 22yrs, all of Uyo L.G.A. Further investigation led to the recovery of one locally made pistol, one Sumer- Fire Man SPG4000E2 Generator, two (2) LG Flat Screen Television, Three (3) LG Speakers, one (1) Zinox Laptop, one (1) 6KG Gas Cyclinder, one (1) Gionee Phone, one (1) Huawei Phone, one (1) Tecno Android Phone and one (1) Tecno Button Phone. Suspects have confessed to the crime and stated that they are about fifteen (15) members in their syndicate. Effort is ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate.
“8. ARREST OF MURDER/ROBBERY SUSPECT: On 12/7/2024 at about 8:30pm Operatives of the command on routine patrol accosted two suspects one Daniel Edem Okon ‘m’ 23yrs and Samaila Salisu ‘m’ 20yrs on a Motorcycle without Identification Number along Timber Market, Uyo. After rigorous interrogation, the rider confessed that on 11/7/2024 at about 9:00pm, he paid a commercial cyclist on a ride from Idoro Road to Mbikpon Ikot Edim. That on getting to a lonely area he hacked the rider to death with a matchete. Thereafter, he buried him in a shallow grave and went away with the motorcycle. The decomposed body of the victim later identified as one Saviour Anthony Effiong ‘m’ aged 45yrs has been exhumed and deposited at a Morgue.
“9. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY/ATTEMPTED MURDER/CULTISM SUSPECT: On the 5/7/2024 at about 10:30pm. The Command received a distress call from a tricycle rider that he was attacked by armed robbers along Four Lane by Sylvanus Okon Street, Uyo. Operatives of the command rushed to the scene and recovered the snatched tricycle while the hoodlums took to their heels. However, upon trailing of suspects, one Wisdom Jacob Udom and one Timothy Edem Ekpenyong ‘m’ were arrested. Both suspects confessed to be members of Vikings Confraternity. A motorcycle and matchetes used for their modus operandi were recovered.
“10. CONSPIRACY/CHILD TRAFFICKING: On 15/7/2024 at about 4:30pm, based on actionable intelligence, one Mrs. Eunice Eze ‘f’ age 56yrs was arrested for running a baby factory at World Bank Estate in owerri. The suspect specializes in stealing babies and pregnant women from Akwa Ibom State through her agent one Ability Henry Tom. Ten (10) pregnant women were rescued.”
