In the second quarter of 2023, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command reported it apprehended 269 individuals in the state for murder, abduction, armed robbery, cultism, rape, and theft.
According to the command, the figure was owing to the current government’s pre- and post-inauguration periods, the Eastern Obolo and Ikot Abasi crises, and the Nwaniba cult clash.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olatoye Durosinmi, made the announcement on Friday during the command’s second quarter press briefing in Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.
According to the commissioner, one of the individuals apprehended was Prince Thursday Okon, a former domestic staff member of a vice chancellor at a private school in the state who was fired due to his illegal activities.
Okon, he claimed, conspired with his two gang members, Saviour Sunday Luke and Richard Friday, all of Ikot Ebam Village in Mkpat Enin LGA, to abduct his old boss, the VC, on his way home.
He further stated that N1.27 million in cash was found as part of the ransom paid, while N200,000 was left in one of the suspect’s account, and that the Toyota Corolla used in the operation was also retrieved, while also revealing that the VC has been reunited with his family.
The commissioner further stated that Aniekan James of Ikot Ndot village in Ukanafun Local Government was detained for shooting his 35-year-old only son, who was engaged in a verbal altercation with him.
“One Odudu Aniekan James, suspected to be a habitual murderer who has committed murders in Lagos and Aba, Abia State, was arrested,” Durosinmi added.
He also stated that a suspected ritualist, one Edu Udeme Ime of Mbak Etoi Village, Uyo, was apprehended at Urua Ekpa junction by the Command’s Quick Response Squad for possessing a human skull, adding that the suspect could not provide any reasonable explanation for why he was in possession of the skull but named their ring leader, who is a suspected ritualist.
Durosinmi stated that the command detained five more accused cultists involved in the horrific Nwaniba cult clash that claimed lives in May.
“The following were arrested,” he said, “Kemfon Inyang Imeh a.k.a Laptop, Horgan Edem Obongedem a.k.a Eburutu, Brown Uduak Emmanuel a.k.a Spunky, Godwin Effiong Okon a.k.a Buy and Buy, and Sunday Udofia a.k.a Ikang Inwang – The Native Doctor who prepares their charms.”
While thanking the Akwa Ibom State Government and other sister agencies for their assistance and strong collaboration in combating crime in the state, the state police command pledged to continue providing the best policing services for the people of the state in accordance with international best practices.
