The Nigeria Police Force in Akwa Ibom State has apprehended three individuals suspected of armed robbery and recovered various items believed to have been stolen during a robbery operation in Uyo, the state capital.
Investigation and Arrests
According to the police, the arrests were made following an intelligence-led investigation into a robbery incident reported on May 25. In a statement issued on Saturday, the police spokesperson in the state, Timfon John, a deputy superintendent of police, said a resident alerted the police after three armed men allegedly invaded his residence and made off with valuables. Detectives immediately launched an investigation and began efforts to track down the perpetrators.
Suspects Identified
The police identified the first suspect arrested as Inyene Aniefiok, a resident of Eka Street, Uyo. According to the police, Mr Aniefiok confessed to participating in the robbery and subsequently led investigators to two other suspects, Emmanuel Thomas and Elijah Gideon, both residents of Udi Street, Uyo. The two suspects were arrested in the early hours of May 29.
Recovered Items
A follow-up operation led to the recovery of several items suspected of being stolen during the robbery. The recovered items include a Sumec generator, an arc saw, electrical cables, hand gloves, wrecking tools, a pinch bar, machetes, and a blood pressure monitoring machine. The police did not disclose the value of the recovered property.
Ongoing Investigation
The police stated that they are still investigating the crime and making efforts to apprehend other suspected members of the robbery gang and recover the weapons allegedly used during the operation.
Broader Crime Fighting Efforts
Last week, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Baba Azare, disclosed that the command arrested 178 suspects and recovered 69 firearms between January and May as part of efforts to combat armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, and other crimes across the state.
