Police arrest 196 in fourth quarter of 2022

Ini Billie, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said it arrested 196 suspects in the fourth quarter of 2022, including a father for beating his daughter to death.

Speaking on Friday in Uyo during a press briefing, the Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durosinmi said the suspects were arrested for various offences bordering on murder, kidnapping, theft, cultism and pipeline vandalism among others.

“A total of one hundred and ninety-six (196) Suspects have been arrested for various offences ranging from murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, child stealing, unlawful possession of firearms, pipeline vandalism, cultism, etc.

“While some of these suspects have been charged to court, the investigation is ongoing for some, while others have been granted Police administrative bail. So far, six (6) kidnapped victims have been rescued, eighteen (18) locally-made pistols and other firearms recovered, while eleven (11) vehicles snatched at different times and places in the State have been recovered,” he stated.

Durosinmi mentioned the murder case in which a father beat his daughter to death for using his phone to call her boyfriend.

“On 11th December 2022 relying on credible Information, operatives of Ikot Ebo Divisional Headquarters arrested one Akaninyene Sunday Okokon ‘m’ who beat up his daughter until she fainted, one Abasiono Akaninyene Sunday ‘f age 16 yrs for using his SIM card to call her boyfriend. The victim was rushed to a prayer house at Ikot Iya village instead of being taken to a hospital,” the CP said.

While speaking, Abasiono Akaninyene Sunday said he did not intentionally kill his daughter, saying his daughter died from a stomach upset that she normally had.

“I beat my daughter but she did not die when I stopped beating her. It was after I stopped beating her that her mother told me that she (my daughter) was having stomach upset,” he said.

The CP also mentioned the arrest of a three-man syndicate for pipeline vandalism, adding that ammunition including (1) one Pumping Machine, (2) a Bag containing several Bolt Nut (3) Bag containing Spanners and Pliers among others were recovered from the suspect.

He said, “On the 16th December 2022 at about 1400hrs at Inua Eyet Mkpanak Village in Ibeno Local Government Area, SIB Operatives arrested some members of a syndicate that specializes in vandalizing Petroleum Pipeline.

“Those arrested include; Oboh Effiong Effanga ‘m’ of Oboton Village in Odukpani Local Government Area, 45 years of age, he double as the Youth President of Inua Eyet Mkpanak. Gabriel Akpan Owong Etim ‘m’ of Mkpanak II and also the Youth President, 35 years of age. Ezekiel Akpan Johnson ‘m’ and Prosper ‘m’ other names unknown both of Mkpanak Village in Ibeno Local Government Area.

“It would be recalled that on 16th of October 2022, a pipeline belonging to Energy Oil Nigeria Company was vandalized and the above. Suspects conspired others at large to carry out the nefarious act”.