The Police Command in Akwa Ibom says it has detained six suspected armed robbers operating within Ikono, Ini and Obot Akara Local Government Areas of the state.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Timfon John, and made available to newsmen in Uyo on Thursday.
According to John, the armed robbers were arrested in the early hours of Thursday during a coordinated clearance operation conducted by the operatives in identifying criminal hideout within the three local government areas of the state.
She said the operation followed sustained intelligence gathering and operational efforts aimed at dismantling members and associates of the criminal network responsible for series of criminal activities, particularly the stealing and disposal of motorcycles and other valuable items.
“During the operations, six suspects were apprehended, including a suspected native doctor alleged to have been providing charms and other fetish preparations for members of the gang.
“Another suspect alleged to specialise in producing fake receipts used to facilitate the disposal and sale of suspected stolen motorcycles and other items was among them,” she said.
John said that a suspected stolen a red Qlink motorcycle with registration number AUQ 73 VC was recovered from the suspects.
Other items recovered include: two single-barrel shotguns; three laptops; charms and other fetish substances.
John said the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, CP Baba Azare, commended the operatives for their courage, professionalism and sustained commitment to intelligence-led policing.
“He directed that the investigation should be intensified with a view to establish the suspects’ individual roles, recover additional stolen property and apprehend other members or collaborators of the criminal network who may still be at large,” she said.
John said the commissioner reiterated that the command would continue to adopt proactive and intelligence-driven strategies to identify criminal elements, disrupt their operational networks and bring perpetrators to justice.
He said that the command remained resolute in its determination to deny criminals safe haven and dismantle criminal networks operating within the state.