The Akwa Ibom State Police Command says it has arrested six suspected members and associates of an armed robbery gang operating across Ikono, Ini and Obot Akara Local Government Areas of the state.
The command said the arrests followed a coordinated clearance operation carried out by police operatives in identified criminal hideouts across the three local government areas in the early hours of Thursday.
According to a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, the operation was led by the officer in charge of the tactical team and followed sustained intelligence gathering aimed at dismantling the remaining members and associates of the criminal network.
The command said the gang was allegedly involved in various criminal activities, particularly the theft and disposal of motorcycles and other valuable items.
”During the operation, six suspects were apprehended, including a suspected native doctor alleged to have been providing charms and other fetish preparations for members of the gang, as well as another suspect alleged to specialise in producing fake receipts used to facilitate the disposal and sale of suspected stolen motorcycles and other items.”
Police said the items recovered during the operation included two single-barrel shotguns, three laptops and one suspected stolen motorcycle.
Local charms and other fetish items were also recovered from the shrine of the suspected native doctor, alongside other materials said to be relevant to the investigation.
The statement said the Commissioner of Police had ordered that the investigation be intensified to establish the individual roles of the suspects, recover more stolen property and arrest other members or collaborators of the criminal network who may still be at large.