Dennis Udo – Udoma, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested one Felix Anietie who supervised a collapsed four storey building behind Zenith Bank along Aka road in Uyo metropolis.
The Police also arrested 96 suspects for various crimes between May and August this year in Akwa Ibom State.
Parading the suspects at the State Police Command, during press briefing in Uyo on Wednesday, Akwa Ibom State Police Commissioner, Olatoye Durusinmi said the fake engineer who supervised the collapsed building escaped after the tragedy but was arrested by his men to face the law.
He said, “Recall that on the 17th of September 2022, a four storey building situated at No.3, Iman Street, behind Zenith bank off Aka road, Uyo collapsed leading to the death of one favour Chukwuemeka Okoro ‘m’ while five persons were rescued.
“The alleged site Engineer, one Felix Anietie Udoh of Felixzity High Technology Limited fled.
“On 7/8/2023 the suspect was arrested by Anti-Robbery Squad of the Command. On interrogation suspect confessed not to be an Engineer but a builder.”
The Police Commissioner also said that suspects arrested within the periods include suspected kidnappers, robbers, those in possession of illegal firearms, human traffickers, murder suspects, bunkering and economic saboteurs as well as suspected sea pirates who terrorised waterways in the State.
Durusinmi particularly mentioned the suspected sea pirates where AK-47 riffle was recovered and suspected human trafficking syndicate who were arrested in Abia, Warri and Lagos, while the stolen children of different ages from one mother were recovered and suspects arrested
“On the 9th August, 2023, Operatives of Anti-Child Theft of the Command, in a rigorous investigation arrested one Peace Patrick Paul ‘f’ who deceived one Utibeabasi Monday Enang, both of Obot Akara L.G.Area and stole her two children, ages 3 and 5 in the month of May, 2023.
“The said Peace Patrick Paul sold the two children to one Mary Eunice in Aba, Abia State who in turn sold them to one Bella Uko in Asaba, Delta State.
“Similarly, one Alayodi Paul Onyekwere ‘f’ of Abroma, Rivers State was arrested for stealing an 11-year-old daughter of one Emmanuel Macauley Daniel ‘m’ of Ikot Ikot Village in Obot Akara L.G.Area.
“Suspect alleged to have been sent by her grandmother to steal the child which she led Operatives to recover from Rivers State. The children are here today and will be reunited to their families, the Command appreciates the collaboration of Yak Iyamma and Arise the Frontline of Abolition of Trafficking in Person Project.
“They demanded the sum of Ten Million Naira (N10m) as ransom. Victims have been rescued and reunited with their respective families,” he said.
The Commissioner of Police explained that all the suspects will soon be arraigned in court to face the law.
He therefore urged members of the public to report all criminal cases so that all suspects could be prosecuted in line with extant laws.
“The above suspects and others will have their day in court.
“I wish to states that we remain committed to the provision of topnotch security in Akwa Ibom State,” he said.