SIX SUSPECTS HELD AS AKWA IBOM POLICE RECOVER GUNS, STOLEN MOTORCYCLE

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested six suspected members and associates of an armed robbery gang allegedly operating across Ikono, Ini and Obot Akara Local Government Areas of the state. The suspects were apprehended during an early-morning clearance operation carried out by the command’s tactical team at identified criminal hideouts.

The police said the operation followed sustained intelligence gathering aimed at dismantling a criminal network linked to alleged armed robberies and motorcycle thefts in the affected areas. Among those arrested were Peter Sabbath, Joseph Udo, Victor Igwe, Boniface Essiet, Simeon Udo and Uko Akang, who were apprehended at different locations during the operation.

According to the command, Victor Igwe was allegedly involved in producing fake receipts used in facilitating the sale of suspected stolen motorcycles, while Boniface Essiet, described as a native doctor, was allegedly providing charms and fetish materials to members of the gang. Uko Akang was also arrested with a red Qlink motorcycle suspected to have been stolen.

Items recovered during the operation included two single-barrel shotguns, three laptops, the suspected stolen motorcycle and local charms and other fetish materials recovered from the shrine of the suspected native doctor. The police said the recovered items had been taken into custody as investigations continued.

The Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, commended the officers involved in the operation and directed investigators to establish the individual roles of the suspects, recover more stolen property and track down other members of the alleged gang who remain at large. He also reiterated the command’s commitment to intelligence-led operations aimed at disrupting criminal networks across the state.