2023 last quarter: Police arrest 562 suspects for various offences

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has arrested 562 suspects for various offences ranging from murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, rape and stealing during the last quarter of 2023.

The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom Command, CP Olatoye Durosinmi, stated this while briefing newsmen at the command headquarters, Ikot Akpanbia in Uyo on Saturday.

Durosinmi said that some of the suspects have been charged to Court, others granted bail, and some were still undergoing investigation.

He mentioned some of the offences to include; pipeline vandalism and economic sabotage by one Godwin Ita Effiong male from Eket Local Government Area, who conspired with four others to vandalise a 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 a locally made gun robbed a POS operator, Glory Akpan and carted away her POS machine, Android phone and N300,000 cash.

“May I on behalf of the officers and men of the Akwa Ibom Command wish you a fruitful new year ahead.

“For the yuletide, I deployed 1, 758 officers and men to effectively provide security during the Christmas and am happy that we had a peaceful celebration.

“I must say that our security strategies and our collaboration with sister security agencies have 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.

Durosinmi 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 to 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.