Police chase robbery gang to Abia border, arrest six
Six suspected members of an armed robbery gang have been arrested by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, which also recovered two locally fabricated shotguns, live and expended cartridges and six motorcycles suspected to have been stolen.
The arrests followed an intelligence-driven operation that began on September 5, 2026, after the police received information that a notorious gang allegedly operating in Ikono Local Government Area was heading towards Ini to carry out a criminal operation.
*Exhibit
Etim Ekpimah
Six suspected members of an armed robbery gang have been arrested by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, which also recovered two locally fabricated shotguns, live and expended cartridges and six motorcycles suspected to have been stolen.
The arrests followed an intelligence-driven operation that began on September 5, 2026, after the police received information that a notorious gang allegedly operating in Ikono Local Government Area was heading towards Ini to carry out a criminal operation.
Police operatives immediately swung into action and pursued the suspects through Ini towards the Akwa Ibom-Abia boundary.
The chase ended at a border community, where three suspects, including the alleged gang leader, were intercepted and arrested. One other suspect reportedly escaped.
Investigators later extracted information from the arrested suspects, leading to the identification and arrest of three additional members of the alleged gang, bringing the number in custody to six.
The suspects were identified as Gideon Udoh, 23, also known as Holy Water Blood, of Mbiabong Ukana Ikot Etefia Village, Ikono; Martins Udo, 36, of Mbiabong Ikot Etefia Village; Bassey Ukpong, 22, also known as Ekpor, of Mbiabong Ukana Ikot Etefia Village; and Aniebiet Dominic, 25, also known as Two Second, of Itak Ikot Akpan Ndem Village, Ikono.
Others are David Idaha, 32, also known as Black, of Nung Ukim Village, Ikono, and Joseph Udo, 25, who police described as the gang’s alleged technical operative.
According to DSP Timfon John, Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State Command, preliminary investigations have linked the suspects to a string of alleged crimes in Akwa Ibom and neighbouring areas.
John, who stated this on behalf of the Commissioner of Police on September 11, 2026, said the offences allegedly linked to the suspects include armed robbery, kidnapping, hostage-taking, abduction, car snatching, rape, cult-related activities, drug dealing, extortion, demanding by menace, malicious damage and attempted murder.
Police said the investigation was continuing as detectives worked to establish the full extent of the gang’s alleged activities and identify other members who may still be at large.
Items recovered from the suspects include two locally fabricated shotguns, two live cartridges, three expended cartridges and six serviceable motorcycles suspected to have been stolen.
The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, Baba Mohammed Azare, commended the officers involved in the operation for their courage and professionalism.
Azare warned criminal elements that the command would continue to use intelligence-led policing, tactical operations and collaboration with other security agencies to disrupt criminal networks across the state.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, movements and activities to the police, assuring them that information supplied would be treated confidentially.
The command said the operation formed part of its sustained efforts to dismantle criminal networks and deny armed robbers, kidnappers, cultists, extortionists and other criminal elements safe havens in Akwa Ibom State.
