Police Burst Robbery Syndicates Kidnap Rings In Uyo, Othe LGAs …56 Suspects Nabbed

Abasiofiok Inyang & Ogbenna Grace     

In what could be regarded as harvest of criminals in the State which is said to be in line with the tough position against all forms of criminality, the new State Police Commissioner, Adeyemi Samuel Ogunjemilusi yesterday paraded 56 suspected criminals said to have committed various offences, ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping and cultism. The suspects were arrested within the last two weeks.

Recovered and displayed before newsmen were seven locally made pistols and two cut-to-size guns with live cartridges; two cut-to-size locally made pump action with four rounds of cartridges, two locally made single barrel and two locally made double barrel pistols with eleven cartridges.

Also recovered from men of the underworld are, one Toyota 4 Runner Jeep, One Toyota Matrix, three Toyota Camry, one Hyundai Kia and one Highlander (2003) model.

Briefing newsmen, CP Adeyemi said that there is no more hiding place for criminals and criminal minded persons in the State.

The no-nonsense Police boss said that his leadership as Police Commissioner is out to champion a new course of Policing in the State, in line with the force directives, under the leadership of IGP Ibrahim Idris.

Adeyemi further stressed that policing the State is focused on the people and is service oriented with emphasis on human rights driven, intelligence-led, community based and problem solving approaches policing. He added that the new strategies is yielding fruits and has increased public confidence on the police.

Some of the suspects who spoke with our crime reporter, confessed to committing the crime. A suspected kidnapper Isangobong Enobong Etuk who admitted to kidnapping one Pastor Ukere Iwok in the Apostolic Church, Ikot Andem, Ukanafun Local Government Area, said he was lured into the crime by a friend.

The 28 year old Etuk who said he is from Ikot Akpan Eda in Oruk Anam Local Government Area disclosed that he and other members of his gang kept their victim in a house in the said Ikot Akpan Eda village until he was arrested by the Police a day after the operation.

Another suspect, Itoro Monday, said she is only a girlfriend to Isangobong Etuk and that she was not directly involved in the kidnapped of Pastor Ukere.

The 20 year old JSSI dropout who wept profusely said she regretted having relationship with her boyfriend.
Others who also got involved in the alleged kidnap of Pastor Ukere who were paraded by the Police were Ubong Effiong Akpan and David Joseph Michael.

Also nabbed and paraded were armed robbery gang that have been terrorizing the Ikpa road community in Uyo Local Government Area and alleged buyer of stolen vehicles.

Meanwhile, the Police has said that all the suspects will soon be arraigned in court. 

Source: The Sensor Newspaper