By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
The Police in Akwa Ibom say it has arrested 562 suspects for various offences ranging from murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, rape and stealing during the last quarter of 2023.
State Police Commissioner, Mr Olatoye Durosinmi who disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Uyo at the weekend said that some of the suspects have been charged to Court, others granted bail, with others undergoing investigation.
Durosinmi mentioned some of the offences to include; pipeline vandalism and economic sabotage by one Godwin Ita Effiong from Eket Local Council who conspired with four others to vandalise pipeline belonging to Frontier Oil and stole 18 jerry cans of 25 litres of crude oil on Nov. 18.
The CP added that during the period under review, one Francis Eze, male and Johnson Amadu, male armed with locally made gun robbed a POS operator, Glory Akpan and carted away her POS machine, Android phone and N300, 000 cash.
The Command he said deployed 1, 758 officers and men to effectively provide security during the Christmas and New Year adding that their security strategies and our collaboration with sister security agencies has led to a more peaceful Akwa Ibom.
“During the last quarter of the year a total of 562 suspects were arrested for various offences ranging from murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, rape and stealing.” Durosinmi said.
The commissioner also stated that on Nov. 21, Samuel Jackson and Favour Friday all male from Oruk Anam LGA were arrested for stealing a three year old child, daughter of one Effiong Akpan.
He said the suspects have confessed to have stolen the child and sold her to a certain woman at Abia through a third party, stressing that efforts are in progress to arrest other suspects and rescue the child.
The commissioner of police added that with the procurement of 14 gunboats by the state government to the Nigerian Navy, maritime crimes in the state would be reduced to the barest minimum.
He warned criminals operating in the state to have a change of heart or relocated out of the state as Akwa Ibom is no longer safe for criminals.
