By Augustine Ehikioya
The new Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, on Monday said that it will no longer be business as usual for troublemakers in the State.
According to him, the Police Command is poised to end issues of communal clashes, farmers / herders clashes and other crimes in the State.
He gave the assurance during his maiden press briefing as the State Police Command, it was monitored by Security Watch Africa (SWA).
The CP said “As we gather here today, I assure you that the Akwa Ibom State Police Command is committed to addressing the security challenges facing our State.
“We are aware of issues such as Fulani herdsmen encroaching on farms and destroying crops, as well as senseless attacks on Fulani cows by troublemakers.
“Let it be clear that the Police will not fold their arms and allow miscreants to unleash terror on law-abiding citizens.
“The State has a law on grazing, and we will ensure full compliance with its provisions. Anyone arrested in connection with these crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” he stated.
On communal clashes, he said “As part of our strategic approach, we have begun profiling the sponsors of these clashes to ensure they are held accountable for their actions.
“The youth in these areas must be protected from exploitation by selfish individuals. However, to achieve our goals, we need the support and cooperation of all stakeholders, particularly traditional rulers, the media, and other partners in the State.
“Akwa Ibom must be free from all forms of criminal activity. This is our mission. We believe that community policing is key to maintaining peace and security, and we cannot achieve this alone.
“We need your help to identify and address the root causes of crime and insecurity in our communities. We will also strengthen our partnership with Ibom Community Watch personnel to achieve desired results.” he said.
While urging the media to play their critical role in shaping public opinion and promoting peace and security, he charged them to cross-check their facts before publication.
He added “The Police Public Relations Officer and I will always be available to attend to your inquiries. I assure you that the era of “all efforts to speak to the Police proved abortive” is over.”
The CP expressed gratitude to His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno, for his unwavering support and assistance to the Command.
He reeled out the achievements recorded by the Police Command.
According to him, one Prosper Brownson Jim ‘m’ and one Uduak Sunday Benson ‘m’ have been arrested for vandalization of a transformer belonging to Sure Foundation Polytechnic situated at Ikot Atai, Ukanafun Local Government.
“Transformer Oil valued at about N800,000.00 (eight hundred thousand naira) was drained, and armored cables valued at about N3.5m (Three million five hundred thousand naira) were stolen.
“The command recovered Transformer, Armored cables and Items suspected to be juju from the suspects.
The case, he said, will soon be charged to court.
Speaking on another case, he said, “Based on credible information from a Good Samaritan that 4 of the State Fire Service trucks were stolen and taken to Port Harcourt, River State by some officials of the service.
“The Command moved to recover the said trucks and further investigation revealed that the fire trucks were leased out to some multinational companies at the rate of N140,000 per truck per day for initial period of 3 years.
“The link company share was N80,000 while the Fire Service officials share stood at N60,000 per truck per day, the deal was done in 2021 and was expected to terminate by 2024.
“However, about two months to the expiration of the deal the Command acted and recovered the vehicles.
“The four suspects arrested in the case will be charge to court soon while the trucks will be release to the Government to continue to serve the good people of the State while we continue to look for others at large.” he added.
The CP disclosed that the Command arrested one Okwudili Levi Okeke AKA Eze ‘m’ (aged 34 years), Idara Itam Daniel ‘m’ (aged 23 years), David Udoh James ‘m’ (aged 23 years), Udofia Edem Udosen ‘m’ (aged 29 years), David Bassey Bassey ‘m’ (aged 26 years), and Daniel Jacob Edet ‘m’ (aged 30 years) over the issue of a 13-year-old child being reported raped repeatedly for about three years by about four different men (sodomy).
He said that investigation revealed that Okwudili Okeke was recruited into sodomy and has had anal sex with several men in the State.
“This is a crime against humanity and will not be condoned. Suspects will soon be prosecuted after the completion of investigation.” he stated.
On a kidnap case, he said “You may recalled that some time in December 2024, a distress call was received that a Director with the Ministry of Justice, Akwa Ibom State, and his niece (name withheld) were kidnapped by five armed men.
“Our operatives in the Command immediately swung into action and busted the kidnappers’ den in a thick forest located within Ikot Ukpong Village, Abak Local Government.
“A thorough search was conducted within the forest, and the victims were rescued unharmed from an abandoned soak-away. The victim’s car was also recovered by the Police along Etinan Road where it had been abandoned.
“Also, the Toyota Sienna vehicle used to kidnap the victims was also recovered while 2 of the suspects were neutralized. Further Investigation led to the arrest of one Ability Etim Samuel ‘m’ (aged 45 years) and one David Vincent Samuel ‘m’ (aged 36 years).”
He said they are currently been investigated with the view to making more arrest of their gang members and recover their weapons.
Based on credible information at the Command’s disposal, he said, operatives of the Command arrested one Victor Saviour Nwabara ‘m’, a National Diploma student of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Asura, Ikot Ekpene LGA over cultism.
Investigation, he said, revealed he is the leader of the Ku Klux Klan Confraternity, while items recovered from the suspect included One locally made pistol, Three rounds of live cartridges, Talisma, other substances suspected to be charms.
The suspect, he said, will face trial in court.
The CP added “On 4th January 2025, at about 23:30hrs, based on credible information at the Command’s disposal, operatives of the Command arrested One Etinyene Joseph Bassey ‘m’. Investigation revealed that the suspect is the head of the Italian Mafia secret cult confraternity controlling the entire Nwaniba, Anua Offot, Use Offot, and Akamba Nsukara general areas.
“Investigation also revealed that in August 2024, the said suspect was accosted by a Police patrol team along Use Offot with a locally made pistol neatly concealed in a black bag, but he escaped by jumping over a fence
“Items recovered from the suspect include: One locally made pistol, One sharp jack knife,.
On Fraud /Impersonation, the CP said, “one Otobong Godwin Essien ‘m’ went to their palaces and introduced himself as a medical doctor. He informed them about an ongoing health promo in their areas, offering them noxious substances to drink as a food supplement, which was later discovered to be a fake product.
“The suspect fraudulently collected the sum of three million five hundred and ten thousand naira (N3,510,000.00) from the victims. He also promised to provide them with bags of rice, Kings Oil, and Maggi at the end of the promo but failed to do so.”
The exhibits recovered, he said, included One fake ID card, Fifty (50) pieces of fake stickers, Four (4) bottles of suspected noxious liquid substances, Test tube, Twenty (20) empty rubber bottles, Fifty (50) bags of 5kg rice, One (1) carton of Maggi, Two (2) cartons of Kings oil.
On case of Car snatching, the CP disclose that a suspected car snatcher was also arrested based on credible information at the Command’s disposal.
“Operatives intercepted one unregistered GLA 250 4MATICS Mercedes Benz suspected to be stolen. The operatives immediately swung into action, intercepted the vehicle, and arrested one Godwin Ben Okon ‘m’.
“The suspect claimed to have bought the vehicle from Delta State for the sum of nineteen million naira (N19,000,000) without any proof of ownership.
“On 8th January 2025, operatives took the suspect to Delta State, but he could not trace where he bought the vehicle.” he said.
Speaking on another case, he said “On 10/1/25 at about 0300hrs, Operatives of the Command based on credible information arrested One Francis Bassey Ekpo ‘m’ and Ezekiel Nse okon ‘m’ both of Ikpanya village in Ibiono Ibom LGA who kidnapped 3 victims (name witheld) all of Ikpanya village in Ibiono Ibom LGA and demanded for five million naira (N5,000,000.00) ransom before victims could be released.
“Following concerted effort by the Police the victims were rescued unhurt. Both suspects confessed to belonging to “Oyobio ” kidnapping group and mentioned one Eseme Ikpebe ‘m’ as their kingpin. effort is ongoing to arrest the kingpin and other members who are currently on the run.”
To further combat crimes and criminality in the State, he said that the Command has arrested the total number of 10 tricycles operators operating in Ewet Housing Estate between the hours of 1:30am to 3am in the morning.
“These group of Tricycles operators specialize in conveying items stolen from the estate for the criminals, some equally operate during these hours mainly to either robbed residents, steal generators and other valuables from the residents or vandalize transformers and also steal armored cables.
“Investigation is ongoing and we will keep you abreast of the outcome in due course”
Concluding the press briefing, he said “please help me to reecho to the criminals that Akwa Ibom State will no longer be their safe heaven.
“We will continue to pursue them until the toe the path of honor. Citizens are to continue with their lawful Businesses and report any suspicious person or movement in their areas to the police through our numbers in circulation.”