It has been a harvest of suspected criminals by the Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in the month of June 2024 as it ramps up its efforts at firming up a secure environment for citizens to thrive in their daily affairs.

The State Commissioner of Police, Waheed Ayilara, at a press briefing on Monday, July 1, 2024 at the State Police Command Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, paraded suspects of violent crimes like murder, armed robbery, fraudsters, kidnappers, and child trafficking syndicate before newsmen.

Addressing the Press, the Akwa Ibom State Police boss announced the arrest of a suspected kidnapper, armed robber and notorious cultist, Daniel Emah, male, aged 47 years, who hails of Etinan Local Government Area but resides at NEPA Line, Uyo.

According to him, upon his arrest following a tip off, firearms including weapons including one AK49 Rifle, one SMG Rifle, two magazines, six rounds of 7.62mm live ammunitions were recovered from the suspect’s residence, adding that the suspect also confessed to being a member of Viking Confraternity.

“Furthermore, following credible intelligence on a planned kidnapping and collection of N150million from a man (name withheld), operatives of the Command swiftly intercepted a white coloured Toyota Hiace Bus, and arrested one Emmanuel Augustine Akpayak, male, aged 27years, one Echem Ovurizichi Weneka, male, aged 27years, one Promise Udofia, male, aged 28years, and one Jeremiah Johnson Okon, male, aged 38years.

“Investigation revealed that Emmanuel Augustine Akpayak had arranged for the kidnap and killing of the would-be victim by engaging men on arms and procuring EFCC vest/uniform for the operation.

“The victim was invited and a search was conducted at the principal suspect’s house where four pairs of EFCC vest were recovered.

“Information at hand indicates that the suspect transacted business of selling cars with the would-be victim and owed the victim about N12million, and in order to evade repayment of the debt, the suspect hired armed men to kidnap, extort the sum of N150million and also kill the victim thereafter but the operation was foiled.”

“On the 09/5/2024 at about 2:30pm, acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Command arrested one Michael Emmanuel Edet ‘m’, one Ability Henry Tom ‘f’ and one Uwem Udoh Moses ‘f’ from their hideouts within Ibesikpo and Aka Etinan road for stealing a child (name withheld) ‘m’ 12years while he was hawking groundnut along Oron road and was taken to Ovum Community in Obingwa LGA, Abia State, sold out for the sum of N400,000 to one Loveth Nkwankwo ‘f’ of Ovum Community, Obingwa LGA in Abia State.”

“On 6/6/2024 following credible information at disposal, one Abasifreke Idongesit Ezekiel ‘m’ aka Michael a native of Okara Village, Akamkpa LGA in Cross River State aged 25years was arrested. Suspect has been on the Command wanted list for cyber stalking, armed robbery and raping of innocent young ladies within the Metropolis.”

“The suspect lures his victims through an account on Facebook with the name “Akparawa Isaac Udofia JP while claiming to be a famous Philanthropist, pursuade the victims to close areas within Pepsi Junction, Etinan Road by Beulah School, Ekom Iman axis, Nkara village in Ikono LGA and within Uyo metropolis, raped, film nude videos, robbed the victims of their phones and valuables. Suspect has confessed to the crime and effort is ongoing to arrest his accomplices.”

“On 21/06/2024 at about 7:00pm, one Glory Okon ‘f’ of Afaha Ikot Obio Nkan Village, Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, called in through the emergency hotline and alleged that one Donald Ita Nyong ‘m’, Rex Clement Uso ‘m’ and one Kingsley Mathias Joekim POS syndicates came to her POS stand at Udo Udoma Avenue Uyo, pretended to make withdrawal of N10,000 and while she made the withdrawal tothe suspects, one of the suspect gave her N3,200 to deposit into an opay account which she tried three times and the transaction was unsuccessful, the suspects mounted pressure on her which made her to give out the POS machine to the suspect’s to type in the account number and before she could realize. The suspects had withdrawn the sum of N320,000.00 from her machine and quickly jumped into their waiting car and zoomed off.”

“On 1/1/2024 at about 7:00pm one Blessing Usang Egbe ‘f’ of No. 26 Akan Bassey Street, Uyo reported that on same date at about 6:30pm, a group of boys emerged from nowhere and shot her husband one Inspector Usang Egbe ‘m’ while they were in the shop. Meanwhile the victim was confirmed death before reaching the hospital.”

“Subsequently, on the 4th April, 2024 at about 09:00am one Unyime Sunday Umo ‘m’ of Uyo reported that on 21/1/2024, one Timothy Ezekiel; Titus ‘m’, Ukeme Etim Udosen ‘m’, Indomie, Thunder, Stay Cool and so many others who are members of Debam cult group invaded their family compound at Ikot Ekpeyak Ikono village, Uyo L.G.A and killed his brother one Dr. Udofia Sunday Umo. Suspects were arrested and they include;
One Wisdom Victor ‘m’ aka Naked, one Sunday Joseph Akpan ‘m’ aka Slot, one Isaac Enefiok Friday ‘m’ aka Chapter One, one Ifiok Udo Etim ‘m’ aka Solowise, one Nsikak Joseph Inyang ‘m’ aka Funky, one Uduak Ime Jimmy ‘m’ aka Messi.”

“The suspects confessed to both crimes and mentioned other members of their gang that partook in the terror attacks. Two locally made gun, two bottles containing concoctions suspected to be charms and illicit drugs were recovered from them.

In a chat with journalists, an Uyo based private school proprietor narrated how a single police officer rescued him when he was kidnapped along New Stadium Road in Uyo.

“The above suspects and others will have their day in court. I wouldn’t end this briefing without a special appreciation to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno for his support to the Police.

“The Governor’s support and commitment to fighting crime has acted as a buffer towards the eradication of crime and criminal elements in the State. The Akwa Ibom State Police shall leave no stone unturned as we battle all factors capable of disrupting peace, law and order in the State.”