The police in Akwa Ibom have apprehended 19 suspects linked to various crimes, including conspiracy, theft, kidnapping, sodomy, fraud, impersonation, vandalism of public transformers, cult activities, and illegal possession of firearms.
Mr. Baba Mohammed Azare, the state commissioner of police, who announced these arrests during his first press briefing at the Command headquarters in Uyo, on Monday, said the suspects were taken into custody between December 2024 and January 2025.
Azare revealed that 10 tricycle operators were also arrested in Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, for their involvement in transporting stolen goods during the early morning hours of 1:30 AM to 3 AM.
These operators, according to the police boss, were engaged in criminal activities, including robbing residents, stealing generators and other valuables, vandalizing transformers, and stealing armored electric cables.
“We are aware of issues such as Fulani herdsmen encroaching on farms and destroying crops, as well as senseless attacks on Fulani cows by troublemakers. Let it be clear that the Police will not fold their arms and allow miscreants to unleash terror on law-abiding citizens.
“The state has a law on grazing, and we will ensure full compliance with its provisions. Anyone arrested in connection with these crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“We are also addressing the issue of communal clashes. As part of our strategic approach, we have begun profiling the sponsors of these clashes to ensure they are held accountable for their actions”.
The police commissioner stated that the suspects arrested in connection with the stealing of Akwa Ibom State fire service trucks would be charged in court soon, while the trucks would be released to the government for service to the public.
“Based on credible information from a Good Samaritan, we gathered that four of the state fire service trucks were stolen and taken to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by some officials of the service.
“The Command moved to recover the said trucks and further investigation revealed that the fire trucks were leased out to some multinational companies at the rate of N140,000 per truck per day for initial period of 3 yrs.
“The link company share was N80,000 while the fire service officials share stood at N60,000 per truck per day. The deal was done in 2021 and was expected to terminate by 2024. However, about two months to the expiration of the deal, the command acted and recovered the vehicles”.
He stated that the suspects arrested for sodomising a 13-year-old child would soon be prosecuted after the investigation is completed.
“As soon as the case of a 13-year-old child said to have been repeatedly raped for about three years by about four different men (sodomy) was reported, operatives of the Command swung into action immediately and arrested one Okwudili Levi Okeke AKA Eze ‘m’ (aged 34 years), Idara Itam Daniel ‘m’ (aged 23 years), David Udoh James ‘m’ (aged 23 years), Udofia Edem Udosen ‘m’ (aged 29 years), David Bassey Bassey ‘m’ (aged 26 years), and Daniel Jacob Edet ‘m’ (aged 30 years).
“Investigation revealed that Okwudili Okeke was recruited into sodomy and has had anal sex with several men in the state. This is a crime against humanity and will not be condoned”, Azare stated, adding that Akwa Ibom would no longer be a safe haven for criminals, as the police would continue to pursue them until they choose the path of honour.
