By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
No fewer than 269 suspects have been arrested by the police in Akwa Ibom State for different offences, ranging from murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, rape, stealing and others between April and June this year.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Olateyo Durosinmi who disclosed this to journalists at the police headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo on Friday, said some of the suspects were charged to Court while others were still under investigation.
CP Durosinmi made a breakdown of few cases to include arrest of three suspects on April 16, by operatives of the anti-kidnapping squad two days after they kidnapped the Vice Chancellor of a private university in the state while on his way home.
The suspects according to CP Durosinmi, were Prince Thursday Okon, a former domestic staff of the Vice Chancellor and two of his gang members, Saviour Sunday Luke and Richard Friday, all of Ikot Ebam Village in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of the state.
According to him, the sum of one million, two hundred and seventy thousand naira cash was recovered as part of the ransom paid, while Two Hundred and Fifty thousand naira was left in one of the Suspect’s account. The Toyota Corolla used for the operation was also recovered. The VC has been reunited with his family.
Within the period also, the Police Commissioner said One Edu Udeme Ime of Mbak Etoi Village, Uyo was arrested on May 15, at Urua Ekpa junction by the Command’s Quick Response Squad for being in possession of human skull.
The Suspect, he added could not give any reasonable explanation as to why he was in possession of same but named their ring leader who is a suspected ritualist.
In a coordinated operation, the duo of Enyeneokpo Ubeh of Ikot Antia Village and Gabriel Essien of Ndon Ebom village, both in Uruan LGA were arrested on May 3, by Operatives of the Anti-Narcotics Squad of the Command for vandalizing and stealing part of the airport gate facing the Okobo axis of the Victor Attah International Airport. Some of the e vandalized parts have been recovered and efforts are being made to arrest other fleeing gang members. The CP stated.
The CP also said, One Aniekan James of Ikot Ndot village in Ukanafun Local Government Area was arrested on June 16, for shooting his 35 years only Son, Odudu Aniekan James who have been having war of words with him. Suspect is suspected to be a serial murderer who have committed murders in Lagos and Aba in Abia State.
Similarly, the CP said on June 13, five additional suspected cultists involved in the Nwaniba brutal cult clash which led to the loss of lives in the month of May were arrested after a painstaking investigation.
They include Kemfon Inyang Imeh a.k.a Laptop, Horgan Edem Obongedem a.k.a Eburutu, Brown Uduak Emmanuel a.k.a Spunky, Godwin Effiong Okon a.k.a Buy and Buy and Clement Sunday Udofia a.k.a Ikang Inwang – The Native Doctor who prepares their charms.
CP Durosinmi maintained that the Command, in line with the directives of the current IGP to flush out criminal elements, would remain committed to providing the best of Policing Services for the good People of Akwa Ibom State in line with international best practices, stressing that all suspects would be charged to court at the completion of Investigation.
