Ini Billie, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has recovered seven stolen exotic vehicles in the state.
Speaking on Tuesday in Uyo with members of the Correspondent Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Macdon alerted the public on rising car theft in Akwa Ibom, adding that three main syndicates were involved.
Macdon advised car owners and members of the public to be security conscious about their vehicles. He noted that the force was working hard to nip car theft and other criminal activities in the bud.
“As a command, we recovered only recently about seven exotic cars, stolen from different parts of this state, traced to the receivers, recovered and given back to the people.
“Do you know why there is an upsurge? Uyo has opened up, Akwa Ibom State has opened up, and it is more accessible now. It would have even been worst, but we have our strategy and as I speak, we are onto them.
“They are like three syndicates operating in this town. You park your vehicle and before you go in and come out, your vehicle has disappeared. That nonsense is about to end,” he stated.
The PPRO called on the incoming govern-elect, Pastor Umo Eno to digitalize security apparatus in the state.
He advocated for the installation of CCTV cameras in all the major cities in the state, saying it would help the Police tackle the problem of insecurity better.
“The Akwa Ibom State Command is calling on the incoming administration, and we believe that he has the capacity to do this. To digitalize and make policing in Akwa Ibom State technologically driven.
“Let’s have CCTV everywhere in Uyo. It is doable, it is possible. Let’s have it in Ikot Ekpene, in Eket, and in most towns in Akwa Ibom if we cannot have it in all the villages and all the local governments.
“It pains the Commissioner of Police that now, one of the crimes we are battling with Akwa Ibom State now is an increase in car theft. There is an increase in car theft and I am calling on Akwa Ibomites to always keep an eye on their vehicles as much as they can,” he stated.