The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has said it arrested 79 suspects for various offences in the month of January 2024.
This was made known by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Olatoye Durosinmi, during a chat with newsmen at police headquarters in Uyo on Friday.
Durosinmi explained that the operatives of the command arrested the suspects for various crimes ranging from murder and kidnapping to armed robbery and cultism.
He noted that the greatest achievement within the month of January was the arrest of 10 kidnappers who were planning to unleash mayhem on the state.
The CP stated further that the operatives of Ibiono Ibom Division recovered four AK 47 rifles during the operations.
“As we strive daily to keep the state safe, criminal elements too have continued to try to perpetrate their nefarious acts.
“This January alone, 79 criminal elements have been arrested for various crimes.
“The greatest achievement within the last one month is the arrest of 10 confessed kidnappers who were planning to unleash mayhem on the state and recovery of four AK Riffles.
“On January 16, 2024 about 3:45pm, operatives of Ibiono Ibom Division, relying on credible intelligence, stormed Ibiaku Ikot Oku community forest where over 15 heavily armed suspects were camping and engaged them in gun duel.
“Some of the suspects absconded with bullet wounds while four of them were arrested and one AK 47 riffle recovered.
“Swift follow up of operation by the Anti-Robbery unit of the command led to further arrest of six suspects and the recovery of three more AK 47 riffles,” Durosinmi said.
Durosimi stated that the suspects came from neighbouring states to cause havoc in Akwa Ibom.
He added that the suspects confessed that they were planning and monitoring to kidnap an expatriate involved in the construction work along Calabar-Itu Highway.
The commissioner added that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.
While appreciating the good people of Akwa Ibom and solicited for cooperation and information to ensure criminal elements were arrested, The Commissioner of Police lauded other security agencies for cooperation, collaboration and support to keep Akwa Ibom safe.
