By Chizoba Ogbeche
Abuja
The police in Akwa-Ibom state have arrested 13 for various crimes even as the command launched ‘Operation Impact’, a crime reduction strategy in a bid to raise the bar in crime prevention and reduction.
Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of the state, ag CP Don Awunah in a statement made available to journalists said: “In the few days following the launch of OPERATION IMPACT the gains are huge and encouraging particularly in Ikot Ekpene Police Area Command of the state.”
According to him, “A careful analysis of the state crime profile revealed that cultism, kidnap for ransom, murder, stealing, to be the most prevalent crimes committed in the state.”
Awunah, who said the suspects were arrested for crimes ranging from kidnapping, cultism, murder, car snatching as well as vandalism of infrastructure, said a notorious kidnap gang was smashed by operatives leading to the rescue of a Reverend Father attached to St. Michael Parish, Ikot Etim village in Ukanafun Local Government Area on February 18, 2017.
He said upon interrogation, the gang members confessed to having been behind many high-profile kidnap cases in the state including the kidnap of a lecturer in the State University and a political party stalwart.
He said one AK-47 riffle; five rounds of 9mm ammunition, one locally made pistol with rounds of ammunition; one Nissan Primera with registration No. GGE 861 DO and a sum of N180,000 were recovered from the gang.
The police boss said Nkereuwem Victor, 25, was arrested February 11, on a motorcycle in Ukanafun LGA, enroute an armed robbery operation and has given insight to gangs who specialize in robbing unsuspecting citizens using motorcycles business as a ploy.
Awunah said one locally made pistol, three live cartridges, a face mask and a torch light were recovered from the suspect.
He said security operatives acting on a tip off arrested six cultists, who were planning to unleash mayhem on innocent members of the public, on February 12 and 14, and the suspects are still under investigation.
He said following intelligence shared between Lagos and Akwa Ibom state Police Commands, one Kia Soul car with registration number UW 677 KJA, chassis/engine number KNAJT811BB7290086, chocolate brown in colour which was stolen at Lagos was recovered by our officers in the state, on February 16. The CP said the suspect confessed that he usually poses as a driver to VIPs after which he disappears with their vehicles, adding that his route of operation was usually between Lagos and Akwa Ibom state.
He said further investigation uncovered several cars stolen by the suspect, adding that another suspect was arrested for receiving high voltage second-hand batteries found to have been stolen.
The police boss said equipment used for installation of solar energy street light were recovered during a search of his shop and business premises; equipment used for installation of solar energy street light were recovered, just as efforts were being intensified toward the apprehension of the members of the gang now at large.
