Akwa Ibom Police Commissioner Ayilara Parades 31 Suspects Over Various Crimes
By Emmanuel Uffot
Waheed Ayilara, Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police seems to have hit the ground running in his strive to rid the State of criminal elements since his posting to the state over a month ago.
The CP on Monday, July 22 paraded before Journalists 31 Suspects arrested across the state for various crimes ranging from, kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, gun running and human trafficking among others.
Prominent among those paraded at the command headquarters Ikot Akpan Abia was a notorious kidnapper named Ubong Effiong Archibong alias ‘ Condiment’.
Archibong who leads a notorious kidnapping syndicate and had been on the police wanted list has been responsible for the kidnapping and killing of several persons was arrested in Ekeya Okobo where he operates from with a catch of arms and ammunitions recovered from his hide out.
The said firearms were recovered at a private mortuary being used as the armoury of the syndicate at Ekeya, Okobo L.G.A. The CP listed the firearms recovered at the said mortuary as, Two (2) AK-47 Rifles, Two (2) G3 Rifles, One (1) Double Barrel Rifle, One (1) Single Barrel Rifle, Five (5) Magazines and Seven (7) Live Ammunitions.
Also paraded was a suspected rapist Paul Samuel Edu age 44.
According to the CP on 20/7/2024 at about 3:15pm, a National Youth Service Corps member residing at Ukana Iba village in Essien Udim reported that at about 3:00am one Paul Samuel Edu 44yrs (her landlord’s son) came knocking at her door. That on opening the door, the said Paul brandished before her a machete, and directed her to follow him to his room for a talk or else he would harm her. On reaching the suspect’s room, he bolted the door, tore her clothes and had carnal knowledge of her without her consent. He disclosed that the when the suspect was arrested by his men, one matchete and a slaughter knife was recovered from him.
The third batch of those paraded were suspected vandals and thieves. He said they were arrested On the 23rd of June, 2024, when his men got intelligence report that thieves have invaded Ibom Tropicana and broke into the warehouse to steal some items.
” On the 23rd of June, relying on information at the Command’s disposal, that a group of thieves invaded Ibom Tropicana Complex, broke into its warehouse and stole some items therein. Operatives of the Command immediately swung into action and arrested the following Suspects;
I. Engr. Udofia Jonah age 56yrs
II. Ekerette David Sunday ‘m’ age 30yrs
III. Ukpe Aniebiet Ita ‘m’ age 25yrs
IV. Moses Ita Etim ‘m’ age 26yrs
V. Inyene Joseph James ‘m’
VI. Ekaette I. Nkrok ‘f’ age 42yrs
VII. Aniefiok John Friday ‘m’ age 27yrs, and also recovered Sixty one (61) armoured doors and Forty-Two (42) timbers which were to be conveyed out of the State”.
CP Ayilara also paraded another group of vandals and thieves carried out their nefarious act St Eastern Obolo in Akwa Ibom State also through intelligence and discreet investigation by operatives of the state command. CP Ayilara “Through credible intelligence and discreet investigation, Operatives of the Command arrested one Ugwem Ijah Nteilie ‘m’ age 24yrs , Frank Frank ‘m’ age 25yrs, Morris Possible ‘m’ age 21yrs and Nura Idris ‘m’ age 26yrs for burglary and stealing of Eastern Obolo General Hospital equipments. Items recovered from the suspects include; seven (7) Air Conditioners compressors, three (3) Plasma televisions, three (3) refrigerators, seven (7) compressors from stolen fridges, three (3) plasma television sets and one refrigerator. Effort is ongoing to recover other stolen items”.
He also presented to the press six suspects arrested over vandalisation of Electric Transformers and Communication Mast within Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.
He said they were arrested through partnership with sister security agencies.
The six suspects were, Chinedu Divine Nweke, Kingsley James, Nnanna Uchendu, Kelechi Chima, Goodluck Amasi and Ikechi Nwauju, all Residents of Rivers State. According to the CP, further investigations revealed that the suspects were on the verge of vandalizing another transformer at Ikot Inyang-Ator in Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State before they were arrested. He listed the items recovered from them to include, A Nissan Premera vehicle, one Gasoline Oxygen and spanners. He further disclosed that the suspects have confessed to the crime and admitted that they were responsible for vandalizing different Transformers in Ojor village, MTN Communication Mast located at Efemibon village and Airtel Communication Mast at Ikot Idiong Etor village. He said they will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.
Another group of vandals numbering three, were also paraded for the crime.
” Our men acting on credible information that some vandals were pulling down high tension electric cables along Eastern Obolo L.G.A., Operatives of the Command arrested one Napiu Ibrahim ‘m’ age 19yrs, Melon Selitima ‘m’ age 22yrs and Abdul Abubbakar ‘m’ age 22yrs. A bag containing high tension cables was recovered from the suspects. Suspects will have their day in court.
Other categories of suspected arrested criminals paraded before the press included and armed robbery syndicate.
“ARREST OF SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBERY SYNDICATES: Following intelligence report that an armed robbery syndicate terrorizing Uyo metropolis were selling out their stolen/looted items, Operatives of the Command mobilized to the scene and arrested one Emmanuel Ekpenyong Bassey ‘m’ aged 20yrs, Saviour Etim Bassey ‘m’ aged 24yrs, Emem Christopher Charles ‘m’ aged 23yrs, Elijah Solomon Obot ‘m’ aged 21yrs and Etiuwem Christian Etim ‘m’ aged 22yrs, all of Uyo L.G.A. Further investigation led to the recovery of one locally made pistol, one Sumer- Fire Man SPG4000E2 Generator, two (2) LG Flat Screen Television, Three (3) LG Speakers, one (1) Zinox Laptop, one (1) 6KG Gas Cyclinder, one (1) Gionee Phone, one (1) Huawei Phone, one (1) Tecno Android Phone and one (1) Tecno Button Phone. “Suspects have confessed to the crime and stated that they are about fifteen (15) members in their syndicate. Effort is ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate”.
Perhaps the one that sent shivers many present was one Daniel Edem Okon male and age 23 and his accomplish Samaila Salisu age 20 for murdering a motorcyclist, birthing him in a shallow grave and going away with his motorbike.
“ARREST OF MURDER/ROBBERY SUSPECT: On 12/7/2024 at about 8:30pm Operatives of the command on routine patrol accosted two suspects one Daniel Edem Okon ‘m’ 23yrs and Samaila Salisu ‘m’ 20yrs on a Motorcycle without Identification Number along Timber Market, Uyo. After rigorous interrogation, the rider confessed that on 11/7/2024 at about 9:00pm, he paid a commercial cyclist on a ride from Idoro Road to Mbikpon Ikot Edim. That on getting to a lonely area he hacked the rider to death with a matchete. Thereafter, he buried him in a shallow grave and went away with the motorcycle. The decomposed body of the victim later identified as one Saviour Anthony Effiong ‘m’ aged 45yrs has been exhumed and deposited at a Morgue”.
Also paraded for armed robbery/attempted murder,/ cultism were Wisdom Jacob Udom and Timothy Edem Ekpeyong.
CP Ayilara explained their arrest thus
“ARREST OF ARMED ROBBERY/ATTEMPTED MURDER/CULTISM SUSPECT: On the 5/7/2024 at about 10:30pm. The Command received a distress call from a tricycle rider that he was attacked by armed robbers along Four Lane by Sylvanus Okon Street, Uyo. Operatives of the command rushed to the scene and recovered the snatched tricycle while the hoodlums took to their heels. However, upon trailing of suspects, one Wisdom Jacob Udom and one Timothy Edem Ekpenyong ‘m’ were arrested. Both suspects confessed to be members of Vikings Confraternity. A motorcycle and matchetes used for their modus operandi were recovered”.
Another big catch paraded was a woman who claimed to operate an orphanage, but was involving Inna new trend of business known as ‘ Baby factory’ were she gets some willing young girls on a negotiated fee.
Gets them into her supposed orphanage, get men to impregnate them after delivery, the babies are sold off to ready buyers and the girls are settled.
Most of her victims also paraded who were rescued by the police upon the woman’s arrest were pregnant.
She is said to have ferried the girls from Akwa Ibom State to Imo were she operates her illegal business.
CP Ayilara explains “CONSPIRACY/CHILD TRAFFICKING: On 15/7/2024 at about 4:30pm, based on actionable intelligence, one Mrs. Eunice Eze ‘f’ age 56yrs was arrrested for running a baby factory at World Bank Estate in owerri. The suspect specializes in stealing babies and pregnant women from Akwa Ibom State through her agent one Ability Henry Tom. Ten (10) pregnant women were rescued’.
The CP who had earlier paraded some suspects arrested by his command since his assumption of duty in Akwa Ibom State
expressed his appreciation to the Government for the support. And also to Sister Security Agencies and good spirited members of the public whose credible and timely information led to the achievements of the state command in ridding the state of criminals.
He promised that he and men will not rest in their drive to continue to ensure Akwa Ibom is a peaceful and crime free state.
Present at the parade of the 31 suspects, the largest in recent times were assistant commissioners and the Command’s Public Relations Officer ASP Timfon John.
The Command looks forward to a more formidable collaboration from all as we strive to keep Akwa Ibom State safer and more peaceful.
He urged the law abiding citizens to always perform their patriotic duty of reporting crimes and criminals in their domain for police prompt action.
” If you see something, say something and the Police will immediately do something, CP Ayilara stated.
