RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos.
The Akwa Ibom Police Command has recorded significant operational breakthroughs in the task of ensuring a safer and secured State, with the uncovering of no fewer than six assorted firearms and ammunition hidden in a private mortuary by a kidnapping syndicate being led by one Ubong Effiong Archibong a.k.a Condiment, a wanted kidnapper.
Similarly, it arrested a total number of five suspected armed robbers, 20 vandals, with various stolen items recovered from them.
In the same vain, the Command also arrested two suspected murderers alleged to have hacked a commercial motorcycle to death and buried his body in a shallow grave.
The Commissioner of Police Akwa Ibom Police Command Waheed Ayilara made the disclosure on Monday during a press briefing.
Giving a breakdown of the breakthroughs, Ayilara listed the recovered firearms and ammunition at the mortuary located at Ekeya, Okobo Council area of the state, to include two AK-47 Rifles, two G3 Rifles, one Double Barrel Rifle, one single barrel rifle, five magazines and seven live ammunitions.
He stated that the kidnapping syndicate is responsible for the kidnapping and killing of several persons.
Speaking on the suspected vandals, the Police Commissioner said seven out of them, which include Engr. Udofia Jonah age 56, Ekerette David Sunday, Ukpe Aniebiet Ita, 25, Moses Ita Etim, 26, Inyene Joseph James Ekaette I. Nkrok, 42 and Aniefiok John Friday, 27,were arrested at Ibom Tropical Complex, where they broke into its warehouse and stole 61 armoured doors and 42 timbers which were to be conveyed out of the State, but recovered from them.
In addition, he said four others namely one Ugwem Ijah Nteilie, 24 , Frank Frank, 25, Morris Possible, 21yrs and Nura Idris, 26 burgled the Eastern Obolo General Hospital and stole several equipments.
Seven Air conditioners’ compressors, three Plasma televisions, three refrigerators, seven compressors from stolen fridges, three plasma television sets and one refrigerator recovered from them, he said we’re recovered from the suspects.
According to him, three others were nabbed with a bag containing high tension cables which they stole from a high tension electric cables they pulled down along Eastern Obolo Local Government Council area.
They include one Napiu Ibrahim, 19, Melon Selitima, 22 and Abdul Abubbakar 22yrs.
Similarly, Ayilara stated that the sextet of one Chinedu Divine Nweke, Kingsley James, Nnanna Uchendu, Kelechi Chima, Goodluck Amasi and Ikechi Nwauju were apprehended through intelligence led operation in partnership with sister Security-Agencies for vandalizing most of the Electric Transformers and Communication Mast within Akwa Ibom and Rivers States respectively.
” Further investigations revealed that the suspects were on the verge of vandalizing another transformer at Ikot Inyang-Ator in Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. A Nissan Premera vehicle, one Gasoline Oxygen and spanners were recovered from them.
“Meanwhile suspects confessed to the crime and admitted that they are responsible for vandalizing different Transformers in Ojor village, MTN Communication Mast located at Efemibon village and Airtel Comm. Mast at Ikot Idiong Etor village. Suspects will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.”, the Police Commissioner added.
On the suspected armed robbers, the Commissioner of Police disclosed that they
are members of a robbery syndicate terrorising Uyo metropolis, adding that they were arrested a spot where they were selling looted and stolen items.
CP Ayilara identified them to include one Emmanuel Ekpenyong Bassey, 20, Saviour Etim Bassey, 24, Emem Christopher Charles, 23, Elijah Solomon Obot, 21yrs and Etiuwem Christian Etim, 22, all of Uyo L.G.A.
He added that, “Further investigation led to the recovery of one locally made pistol, one Sumer- Fire Man SPG4000E2 Generator, two LG Flat Screen Television, three LG Speakers, one Zinox Laptop, one 6KG Gas Cyclinder, one Gionee Phone, one Huawei Phone, one Tecno Android Phone and oneTecno Button Phone.
” Suspects have confessed to the crime and stated that they are about 15 members in their syndicate. Effort is ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate.”