The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested six people suspected of being members or associates of an armed robbery gang operating in parts of the state. The arrests were made in the early hours of Wednesday during a coordinated operation carried out by the command’s tactical team in Ikono, Ini and Obot Akara Local Government Areas. The operation, according to the police, followed intelligence gathered over time on the activities of a criminal network allegedly involved in armed robbery, motorcycle theft and the disposal of stolen property.
The command’s spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Timfon John, said the arrests were made in a statement issued in Uyo on Thursday. According to the statement, the operation was carried out after police operatives received intelligence about places allegedly being used by the group and moved in to search the identified areas. The three men named in the statement were Peter Sabbath, 34, of Ikot Inyang Village, Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area; Joseph Udo, 25, of Nung Ukim Ikot Okorie Village, Ikono Local Government Area; and Victor Igwe, 23, from Mbiabong Ukan Ikot Etefia Village. Police alleged that Igwe was involved in making fake receipts reportedly used in connection with the sale of stolen motorcycles.
Those arrested were identified as Peter Sabbath, 34, from Ikot Inyang Village in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area; Joseph Udo, 25, from Nung Ukim Ikot Okorie Village in Ikono Local Government Area; and Victor Igwe, 23, from Mbiabong Ukan Ikot Etefia Village. The police alleged that Igwe was involved in producing fake receipts which were used to facilitate the sale of suspected stolen motorcycles. Also arrested was 37-year-old Boniface Essiet from Ikot Akpan Ntim Village in Ikono Local Government Area. According to the police, Essiet is alleged to be a native doctor who provided charms and other materials to members of the suspected gang. The other suspects are 47-year-old Simeon Udo of Itak Ikot Akpandem Village, Ikono Local Government Area, and Uko Akang of Asanting Village. Akang was reportedly arrested with a red Qlink motorcycle, which the police believe may have been stolen. The motorcycle has the registration number AUQ 73 VC.
The investigation also extends to the motorcycle and additional assets impounded during the operation. Officers are currently cross-referencing these items against state and local theft databases to establish ownership history and determine how they ended up on site. Other items believed to be relevant to the investigation were also taken into police custody. the policed clarifies that they are not just arresting the people alone but are gathering more information about the group so justice will be served to those that deserved it. Detectives are interrogating and interviewing those caught to learn about previous crimes committed by each person that might be connected to other criminal and theft activities that have been happening. The police are now digging into the motorcycle and other haul taken in the raid. Investigators are checking engine numbers against theft logs to figure out who actually owns the stuff and where it came from. The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, commended the officers involved in the operation for what he described as their courage and professionalism. Beyond the immediate updates, Azare made a point to ask investigators not to pull back on the case just yet. He urged the team to maintain full momentum, keeping their focus squarely on tracking down any remaining accomplices and recovering the stolen property before it vanishes for good.
He has instructed officers to keep on looking for those involved in the crime who were not arrested during the search. According to the commissioner, the police will continue to rely on information gathered from investigations and other sources as they pursue robbery and other violent crime cases in the state. The police further appealed to members of the public to continue providing useful information that could assist security agencies in identifying criminal activities and locating wanted suspects.
The suspects are still being interviewed by the police. For now, the allegations against them remain claims by the authorities and will have to be established through the investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings.
