Police nabs cult members in Ikot Abasi, Ukanafun, Ika, ors *Arrest kidnappers, male, female armed robbers *We’ve arraigned all suspects in court, says CP Awunah

BY EMMANUEL AKPAN

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command have arrested sixteen cult members in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area. The Commissioner of Police, CP Don Awunah disclosed this last Friday during a press briefing at the police State headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo.

CP Awunah said that the police arrested sixteen notorious cult members in Ikot Abasi on 13th of March, 2017 who had converged at Gravity Hotel, Ikot Abasi in preparatory to unleashing terror and mayhem in the area, adding that they have since been arraigned in court, and are presently remanded in prison custody.

According to the Commissioner, the names of the suspects are: Isaac Isaac Ogunta, Akan Ufon Willie, Uche Ekeneofot, Richard David, Lazarus Lazarus, Victor Celestine Inokon, Friday Akpan Williams and Ichere Dariud Ebenezer. Others are: Jacob Nkwak Jacob, Friday Okon Bassey, Daniel Stephen, Obong Davis, Effiong Mfonobong, Nkereuwem Akpan , Paul Imaobong and Akaniyene Umoh.

Also, the police Commissioner said “eight members of two notorious cult groups in Ukanafun, Ika and Etim Ekpo Local Government Areas, Dee Bam and Dee Well, were smashed and arrested by men of ‘Operation Impact’ on the 10th of February, 2017 and 11th of February, 2017. 

Prior to their arrest, armed with AK-47 Rifles, the rampaging cult members had sneaked into Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo Local Government Areas killing six (6) men: Four in Ukanafun and two in Etim Ekpo. One of the six suspects, Monday Mark Uko alias Young Chief of Ukanafun is said to be the sponsor of a notorious gang of assassins in Ukanafun that had terrorized the area for a very long time, killing and maiming people mindlessly. He sacked and imposed village heads and chiefs at will, killing anyone who dared to challenge him. 

He was so dreaded that some members of the community had to relocate to nearby villages to avoid his onslaught. Meanwhile, operatives are closing in on the leader of the Dee Well group popularly known as Isokpufi, another daredevil who has also been a nightmare to the people in the community.”

According to the CP, “On the 11th of January 2017, two suspects were arrested by SARS operatives after they robbed one Ikechukwu Onumba ‘m’ of his Highlander Jeep with Reg. No. APP 126 CK, handset and cash sum of Two Hundred and Ninety-Six Thousand naira (N296,000.00k) only at Ikot Ekpene on 15th November, 2016. The gang had also on the 19th of December 2016, robbed one Pastor Lawrence Nsima Imoh ‘m’ of his Highlander jeep with Reg. No. KSF 86 CC. One other victim of their robbery escapades, Uduak Bassey ‘m,’ was not that lucky as he was shot while trying to escape from them on the 10th of January, 2017 at about 2130hrs. He is presently receiving treatment in a government hospital. The suspects confessed to the crime and investigation is ongoing. Names of suspects are: Odey Imiele Ipuolem and Precious Ndubusi.”

Continuing, he said “Two female suspects, Sandra Nnamso Eno ‘f’ and Mmeyene Ernest Bassey ‘f’ who specialized in robbing people of phones, money, jewelry and other valuables, using motorcycles (okada) and armed with daggers, knives and other harmful objects, were on 1st April, 2017, apprehended by a team of operation impact shortly after robbing Chukwuemeka Ikeh ‘m’ in Ikot Ekpene. The suspects dispossessed their victim of the sum of four hundred thousand naira (N400,000.00) only and four (4) telephone handsets. They were arrested through one of their phones that dropped unnoticed while hurrying out of the scene after the robbery. The two female suspects confessed to the crime and have since been arraigned in court.”

He said on 10th March 2017, Nineteen (19) members of ‘White Star’ Confraternity were arrested by men of Operation Impact stationed at Oron during raids of criminal hideouts in the area. The suspects confessed being members of the white star secret cult and were accordingly arraigned in court, adding that they have since been remanded in prison custody.

The items recovered from them include: two (2) black and cream coloured Berets with White Star logo inscription, one locally made gun, 3 live cartridges, a set of native drum, wraps of substance later found to be Indian Hemp and a white Nissan Sunny salon car with Reg. No. EW 468 ABK.

On the Command’s determination to drastically clampdown and curb the menace of kidnap for ransom in Akwa Ibom State, the CP maintained that the police renewed zeal and tireless dedication led to the collapse and arrest of a very notorious kidnap gang who on the 10th day of March, 2017 kidnapped an Engineer from his Petrol Station at Ebughu village in Mbo Local Government Area at about 0500hrs. “They were smashed by operatives of Operation Impact, as luck ran out on the criminals owing to the heat from the team of ‘Operation Impact’ which forced them out of their hide out. The effort of our Operatives yielded positive result leading to the rescue of the victim unhurt and the arrest of three (3) of the perpetrators of the kidnap, who upon interrogation, confessed to the crime and equally disclosed the identity of their other gang members who are presently at large, but who have been put under our radar. It was further revealed that they operate with the help of another mercenary gang from Calabar. The suspects are Victor Edet Esu, Victor Edet Usong and Cyril Emmanuel Abang.”

He added “On the 13th day of March 2017, operatives of ‘Operation Impact’ based in Eket, while conducting stop and search along RCC Road Eket, arrested two suspects, Dennis Ikopokor and Effiong Akpan with two locally made pistols. They have since been arraigned in court and remanded in prison custody. Our fight against crime is not only limited to cultism, murder and kidnap for ransom as criminality, under any guise would not be tolerated in Akwa Ibom State. To this end, following a report of Internet Fraud/ Hacking by the Regional Manager of Diamond Bank Plc, covering the South- South and South- East region that the account of a customer was hacked into and the sum of Forty Million, Six Hundred and Seventy- Two Thousand naira (N40,672,000.00k) only was fraudulently withdrawn and transferred into various accounts. Four (4) suspects were arrested in connection with the crime. Upon interrogation, the arrested suspects owned up to the commission of the crime and have accordingly been charged to court and remanded in prison custody.

The suspects are namely: Godwin Edokpolor , Chibuike Amadi, Maxwell John and Uchenna Onyekwere. The exhibit recovered from them comprised mainly of documents showing the transfer of the money.”

He used the opportunity to call on all well-meaning citizens and residents of Akwa Ibom State to support the Police and all other security agencies in the State by volunteering vital information that will help eradicate crime in the State as security is arguably a collective concern and responsibility. The police boss thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel for being supportive to the Police in its onerous task of safe guarding the people and interests of the State by provision of critical logistics which has given renewed vigor to the Officers and Men of Akwa Ibom State Police Command.