Robbery siege in Akwa Ibom: * How SSS tracked Soni Udom attackers

The Department of State Security (DSS), Akwa Ibom State Command has apprehended members of a high profile armed gang suspected to be responsible for the recent spate of robbery incidents in parts of Uyo metropolis.

Five of the six-member dare-devil gang who were paraded before newsmen by the State Director of DSS, Mr Toma Minti during a media briefing Tuesday at the headquarters of the Command in Uyo were Israel Doorlyor alias Igwe, Israel Istofanus, Aminu A. J. A. Madaki, Ibram Mohammed and Orseer Ramsey Pine. The sixth who is still at large is one Anas.

Mr Minti, who gave a graphic picture of the operations of the syndicate, said they were trailed to Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa and Rivers States before being finally apprehended in Port Harcourt.

According to the director, said the men of the underworld, whose came after an intensive security hunt mounted by the officials of the DSS, were the executors of the recent armed robbery attack on the office of Soni Udom & Partners, owned by Chief Soni Udom, immediate past chairman of the Board of Akwa Ibom Property and Investment Company (APICO).

“The most recent of their exploits were their attacks on the residences of one Iniobong Otung of No. 4 Obong Street Off IBB Way, Uyo on April 27, 2014 and Itina Aniedi of No. Aniekong Udo Street, Off Edet Akpan Avenue, Uyo.

“During the attack at the former resident, the gang made away with cash, handsets, a car key and other valuables belonging to the victim as their spirited effort proved inadequate to make away with the car.
“Also in the attack at the later resident, the hoodlums made away with cash, two car keys, handsets and jewelleries. 
  “Again on May 6, 2014, the group struck at the offices of Soni Udom & Partners located at No. 7, Umoessien Street, off Obio Imoh Street, Uyo belonging to one Soni Udom, campaign Manager of Umana Okon Umana, a frontline gubernatorial aspirant in the state,

“Occupants of the office were robbed of their personal belongings including handsets cash, etc. In the course of this operation by the gang, accidental discharge triggered by one of the gang members caught a particular gang member on one of his fingers, virtually blowing off the finger,” the director explained.
He said from investigation, the robbery gang known to be operating mainly in daytime between 2 – 4 pm with 5 – 6 members, uses Hausa language while communicating, a development that prompted the DSS to spread their investigations to Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa and Rivers States.

“The much needed breakthrough however came on May14, 2014 with the arrest of one Israel Doolyor (a.k.a Igwe) in Port Harcourt, River State who turned out to be the leader of the gang.
According to him, “Israel’s confession led to arrest of other members of the gang and accomplices.
He said upon interrogation, the five armed robbers confessed to the crimes and had during interface with workers of Soni Udom & Partners been identified as those who carried out the robbery.
He said their investigations have removed suspicion that the attack on Soni Udom & Partners had any political undertone.

“The command in the course of this investigation, thoroughly interrogated the suspects on possible government complicity/sponsorship of their operation to which they all corroborated one another in refuting and denouncing any such motives rather affirming that their operations were strictly robbery based,” he added.

While condemning the blackmail and insinuations in some quarters that the robbery attack was a sponsored assassination attempt on the life of Chief Soni Udom, the DSS Director urged journalists to work in partnership with government and other security agencies to ensure a peaceful state as the 2015 electoral processes commence in earnest.      ”We must not allow what happened in 2011 to happen again. We must avoid heating up the polity by sensational reports” he pleaded.

During an interface with newsmen, the armed robbers while confirming the crime, said they came to Uyo from Port Harcourt on the invitation of one Anas, who the command affirmed is still at large, in search of greener pastures.

According to one of them, Israel Istifanus, who spoke in pigin English said, “He (Anas) told us to wait for him at four lane, after sometimes he came with three other boys, making us 6 boys, so he went to one house. Anas entered into the house with full confidence, come tell the woman, where is the money, the woman come tellam se she no get money, se she just come back from hospital but se she get only N10,000.00. After that, him bring car key, come open the women car, search the car, then come carry the women car key go”.

On the attack on Soni Udom’s office and how his finger was blown off, he stated, “ Anas tell us to enter any house where fine so on Tuesday we come go this house (Soni Office). We by ourselves, we did not know that people plenty like that for that house, as we come see plenty people, everybody (armed robbers) confused, so Anas told me to shot for up to scare them, so I came Anas say e neva reach that kind level, so as he want drag the gun from, my hand, he pull the trigger so the bullet come shot my finger an cut,” he stated.

Elder Patrick Albert, chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council who led the media team, commended the DSS for the practical measures taken to investigate reported cases as well as efforts put in to control and manage crime in the society.

Albert assured the Command that members of the media in the state will cooperate with all security agencies in the state to maintain peace and security as the state is about to transit to another regime.