In two months, Akwa Ibom Police Command made 91 arrests of suspects committing various crimes in the state, Mr. Olatoye Durosinmi, the State Commissioner of Police, announced.
Durosinmi, while addressing the press at Akwa Ibom Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia in Uyo, said the suspects were arrested for various offences, ranging from murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, child trafficking, rape and other offences.
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According to him, ‘‘While some have been charged to court, others are still under investigation and will be charged to court at the completion of investigation.’’
Speaking on the breakthroughs of the command, he said the police arrested robbery and secret cult suspect and recovered AK 47 rifle, a weapon that could wreck down a community.
‘‘Based on credible intelligence, on 27th July, 2022 at about 1230hrs, Police Crime Prevention Squad of the Command arrested one Akaninyene Aniedi Edet ‘m’ 28yrs of Afaha village in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.
‘‘During interrogation, the said suspect confessed to being a member of the Italian mafia secret confraternity, and that he has been an armed robber since 2020. He led Operatives to his hideout at Afaha village where an AK 47 Rifle with breach Number 1968 ON 6247, one Magazine, Five (5) rounds of 7.6mm ammunition was recovered. Investigation is in progress to arrest other gang members.
On arrest of murder/child trafficking syndicate, the state police chief recalled ‘‘On 28th August, 2022 at about 1500hrs, one Happiness Ndueso ‘f’ and Blessing Joseph, a.k.a “Adiaha Akpan” ‘f’ both of Ifa Ikot Idang village in Uruan Local Government Area, were arrested by operatives of Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Command for the above crimes.
‘‘During investigation, suspects confessed that one Felix Edem a.k.a “Black Bishop” ‘m’ and Joe Fineboy ‘m’ both of Idu Uruan abducted one Queen Ime of Ifiayong Usuk village in Uruan Local Government Area, with her children, ages three and one and half respectively from her house into their tricycle at Ikot Akpa Etok road in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, murdered her and abandoned her corpse, absconded with the two male children and sold them to one Marius Obi ‘m’ of Abia State.
‘‘On 30th August, 2022 at about 0700hrs, Felix took Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad to Aba in Abia State, where the said Marius Obi was lured and arrested. During interrogation, he confessed to have re-sold the two children to his syndicate member known as Nwanyiocha ‘f’, address unknown. Furthermore, as at when Felix Edem was arrested at Nna Enin village in Uruan Local Government Area, a locally made single barrel pistol without ammunition was recovered from him which he confessed to using for his dastardly acts.
According to him, ‘‘On 25th August, 2022 at about 0300hrs upon concerted follow-up operations in the kidnap and eventual murder of one Patrick Okon Ekpo ‘m’ of Nwaniba village in Uruan local government area, one Wisdom Asuquo Okon ‘m’, Marshall Peter Bassey a.k.a “Marshall Attraction” ‘m’, Blessing Patrick Joseph ‘f’, Edet Effiong Edet ‘m’, Tom Edet Okon a.k.a “Tompolo” ‘m’ all of Idu, Ita, Ibiaku Uruan villages in Uruan Local Government Area, respectively, were arrested for investigation by operatives of Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Command.
‘‘During interrogation one Wisdom Asuquo Okon ‘m’ confessed his involvement in the kidnap and murder of Patrick Okon Ekpo ‘m’ after collecting ransom of one million naira (N1m) from the son of the victim. One Peter Bassey ‘m’ confessed membership of same gang but denied taking part in the particular kidnap/murder of victim, one Blessing Patrick Joseph ‘f’ confessed being the supplier/re-supplier of live ammunition and livestock to the gang in the creeks while Tom Edet Okon a.k.a Tompolo confessed membership of gang responsible for the kidnap of one Mfon Akpe ‘m’ sometime in January, 2021. Hostages/several other victims contacted and they have made positive identification of all the suspects named above.’’
Durosinmi noted that ‘‘On 21st August, 2022 at about 3pm, responding to a distress call at Otong Nsit village, one Unyime Iberedem Sampson ‘m’, aged 36yrs, was arrested by Officers of Nsit Ibom Divisional Headquarters, for beating his wife, one Precious Iberedem Sampson ‘f’, 34yrs years old to a state of coma who later died few hours after she was assaulted. Scene of Crime was visited and the corpse deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.
‘‘Similarly, on 25th August, 2022, one David Edet Okon ‘m’, and Peter Akwaowo Solomon ‘m’, both of Ini Local Government Area were trailed and arrested for the murder of one Saviour Stephen Okon ‘m.’ Investigation revealed that the deceased was beaten to death for stealing a goat at Akpan Andem Market. Suspects confessed to the crime.
‘‘Furthermore, On 18th June, 2022 at about 0900hrs, it was reported that one Nsidibe Okon Ikpe ‘m’, Akan Ukpe ‘m’, Ini other names unknown, and Ndifreke Uyah Etim, conspired and murdered one Saviour Uko Eyo, set the corpse ablaze and dumped it by the main road of Ikot Ekan village in Etinan Local Government Area, and ran away on the grounds that he stole a generator. Two suspects were trailed and arrested, while a manhunt for the other fleeing suspects has commenced.
‘‘Also, on 8th July, 2022 at about 06:40 a.m, a Quick Response Patrol Team of the Command, posted at Ibiakpan Junction in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, arrested one Aniekan Inyang ‘m’, suspected to have stabbed one Rose Edem ‘f,’ aged 33yrs, to death with a knife at Ibiakpan Atai village. The said suspect was handed over to Ikot Ekpene Divisional Headquarters for diligent investigation,’’ he added.
The police commissioner lauded the government, sister security agencies, traditional institution, non-state actors, and people of the State for helping in supplying genuine and timely information to the police.
