By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
The police in Akwa Ibom have arrested four officials of the state fire service for illegal lease of five service trucks belonging to the state government.
It has also warned against attacks on herdsmen and restated it’s stand on the implementation of the provisions of the grazing law
State Police Commissioner Mr Baba Azare told s press conference in Uyo yesterday that the officials illegally leased the trucks at the rate of N150,000 per truck per day for a period of three years.
Luck however ran out of them two months to the end of the contract when the deal was blown open.
“Based on credible information from a Good Samaritan that 4 of the state fire service trucks were stolen and taken to Port Harcourt, River State by some officials of the service.
“The Command moved to recover the said trucks and further investigation revealed that the fire trucks were leased out to some multinational companies at the rate of N140,000 per truck per day for initial period of 3 yrs.
“The link company share was N80, 000 while the fire service officials share stood at N60, 000 per truck per day, the deal was done in 2021 and was expected to terminate by 2024. However, about two months to the expiration of the deal the command acted and recovered the vehicles.
“The four suspects arrested in the case will be charged to court soon while the trucks will be release to the Government to continue to serve the good people of the state while we continue to look for others at large.” Azare explained.
On the menace of herdsmen in the state, the commissioner said that ,” we are aware of issues such as Fulani herdsmen encroaching on farms and destroying crops, as well as senseless attacks on Fulani cows by troublemakers.
“Let it be clear that the Police will not fold their arms and allow miscreants to unleash terror on law-abiding citizens. The state has a law on grazing, and we will ensure full compliance with its provisions. Anyone arrested in connection with these crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
The command the commissioner said also rescued a Director with the Ministry of Justice and his niece were kidnapped by five armed men lady year.
“Our operatives in the Command immediately swung into action and busted the kidnappers’ den in a thick forest located within Ikot Ukpong Village, Abak Local Government. A thorough search was conducted within the forest, and the victims were rescued unharmed from an abandoned soak-away .
“The victim’s car was also recovered by the police along Etinan Road where it had been abandoned. Also, the Toyota Sienna vehicle used to kidnap the victims was also recovered while 2 of the suspects were neutralized. Further Investigation led to the arrest of one Ability Etim Samuel ‘m’ (aged 45 years) and one David Vincent Samuel ‘m’ (aged 36 years).” He said.
