By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has arrested a 24-year old notorious armed robber and serial killer, one Malachi Friday Uwem after weeks of manhunt for him and his gang members.
Malachi and his gangsters were traced from Akwa Ibom State to their hideouts at Ikang Village in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State where they were smoked out by operatives of Special Weapons And Tactics Squad (SWAT) after a feared gun duel, Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko MacDon has stated.
Many innocent persons have been robbed of their belongings,15 persons killed while others maimed by Malachi and his gangsters in the last six months in Akwa Ibom State, MacDon disclosed in a release made available to journalists in Uyo on Thursday..
Recall in the last six months, the Residents of Use Ntuen, Okobo Ibiono and Ikot Ambang in Ibiono Ibom local government area as well as Itu and Ikot Ekpene local government areas of the state and part of Uyo have lived in palpable fear of Malachi described by police in the release as a dreaded serial killer and armed robber.
The release read, “The said Malachi and gang have killed over 15 persons and have left some of their victims permanently maimed, some presently in hospitals, while others are counting their losses from his barbaric robbery acts, which have led to the closing of many businesses, especially POS, in these places.
“It would be recalled that on 20/2/22, the notorious armed robber and serial killer robbed and shot one Miss Lovina Eze Chiwendu, a Youth Corp member at Ikot Ambang and made away with her iphone, ATM card and the sum of Seven Thousand Naira, she died last week at Enugu Teaching Hospital.Also, on 21/2/22, the suspect robbed and killed a lady teacher returning from school at Okobo Ibiono who had stopped over at a POS shop, this resulted to a protest by Youth of the area who blocked the Uyo/Ikot Ekpene Expressway.
“Furthermore, on 5/3/22, one Mrs. Idongesit Damson was shot and killed in her house at Okobo Ibiono by the suspect, he also shot one Wisdom, which also led to a protest and blockage of the Uyo/Ikot Ekpene Expressway.Several POS shops and filling stations have been robbed by the suspect and his gang at Okobo Ibiono, Itak axis and Uyo.
“Only recently, on Monday, 25th April, he shot and killed two young men on the grounds that the village couldn’t meet his demand of twenty (20m) Million Naira but were only able to raise five million (5m) Naira”, MacDon stated.
Acting on the order of the Police Commissioner, CP Andrew who closely supervised the operation, the PPRO said the operatives broke into the hideouts and arrested them injuring others
“Today April 28th, 2022 at about 0300hrs, in a painstaking operation, Operatives of Special Weapons And Tactics Squad (SWAT) of the Command led by CSP Julian Igbudu, traced the hoodlums to their hideouts at Ikang in Akpabuyo Local Government Area Of Cross River State, the said Malachi Friday Uwem, his second in command Wisdom Sunday Akpan ‘m’, 31 years, Ndifreke Sunday Ebong ‘m’ 20yrs, and Annansia Umoh ‘m’ 33yrs resisted arrest and engaged the Operatives in a gun duel, and in the ensuing milieu, three of the gang members were fatally injured while attempting to escape”he stated.
Exhibits recovered from the gangsters according to SP MacDon include; One Cut to Size Pump Action Gun, One Locally made Pistol, A large number of cartridges, One Gas Head with a resemblance of a Gun and assorted types of charms.
The Commissioner however reiterated his avowed commitment to make Akwa Ibom a no safe heaven for criminals to live.
