A’Ibom police rescue stolen children, reunite them with family

Ini Billie, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has rescued five children stolen from the same mother.

It was gathered that the children were stolen from their village in Ibiono Ibom by an unknown man and carried away on a motorbike.

Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday in Uyo, Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo said the children have been reunited with their mother.

“On 14/11/2024, at about 1510hrs, the Command received a distress call from one woman (name withheld), who reported that five of her children had been taken away by an unknown man on a motorcycle.

“The command’s operatives immediately swung into action in the company of villagers from Mbiakpan Ikot Idim and Obio Ibiono. The suspect, one Promise Boniface ‘m’, was given a hot chase and arrested at Obio Ibiono.

“The five children were rescued unhurt and reunited with their parents. The motorcycle used by the suspect in committing the crime was recovered,” the CP stated.

The suspect, one Promise Boniface, however, denied stealing the children, saying he discovered the children wandering on the road on a rainy day and took them to a safe place.

“I saw the children on the road crying, saying their parents were not at home, and I took them to my house. I even called my landlord based in Lagos and informed him of the situation.

“The children stayed with me for two hours because it was raining before the youths came. Their mother was not around. I didn’t take the children anywhere,” he stated.

The CP explained that Boniface was one out of the many criminal suspects arrested for theft, kidnapping, robbery, gun running and cultism in November.

He mentioned that operatives from the command also raided a gun-making factory where firearms of various makes were fabricated and sold to criminals, and arrested one David Nse Emmanuel, while his father and his brothers, who jointly run the business, fled.

“Based on credible information at the command’s disposal, operatives stormed a gun-making factory where firearms of various makes were fabricated and sold to criminals. During the operation, one David Nse Emmanuel ‘m’ was arrested, while his father, Akpan Nse Emmanuel ‘m,’ and his brothers, who jointly run the business, fled.

“The following items were recovered: Seven newly made single-barrel guns, five newly made double-barrel guns, one special steel double-trigger pistol, one broken single-barrel gun, one trigger-handle walking stick knife, several cut iron pipes used for constructing gun barrels,” he stated.

The CP stated that a serial car snatcher, one Kingsley Ernest Nelson, aged 38, who had been previously charged in court twice and remanded for similar offenses, was among those arrested.

He explained that the suspect confessed to starting his car-stealing operations in 2017, collaborating with partners based in Rivers State.

He revealed that one Toyota Sienna car with Number Plate DUU 692NZ, one Toyota Rav4 jeep with Number Plate ETN 676AA (white), master keys used to unlock vehicles forcefully, six fake car documents, were among the items recovered from the suspect.

The CP assured citizens and residents of the state that the command would continue to intensify efforts against crime and protect lives and property of the people.