C’ River parade 15 robbery suspects, hoodlums

The Cross River State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Jimoh Omeiza Ozi-Obeh, on Monday paraded 15 suspected kidnappers, armed robbers, Cultists and some persons that possessed firearms without licence. Of the numbers paraded, 10 were suspected armed robbers, one unlawful possession of firearms/robbery and four cultists.

Suspected kidnappers were Patrick Richard Etok and Richard Richard Etok and suspected armed robbers: Mgbeje George Uguge (24), Wisdom Udie Betian (26), Julius Afake (27), Victor Arivedi Williams (23), Effiong Eyibio Effiong (22), David Effiong Ben (20), Felix Edet Joshua (19) and Udo Udo Okon (20).

One suspected person who possessed firearmed/robbery was Ndifreke Idarasit Alias Awa (23) and suspected cultists paraded by the CP were Alfred Nsini Effiong (31), Akaniyene Effiong Udoh (21), Andrew Bassey (27) and Ekpom Asuquo Ndem (23). Also impounded from the hoodlums were 15 Live ammunition, 10 rounds of .9mm live ammunition, 6 locally made pistols and 4 live cartridge wit armed uniforms and charms.

The CP while parading the suspects said that the command efforts in curbing diverse crime and criminality in the state was yielding fruits which resulted in the arrest of the gang of kidnappers and armed robbers. “The Command has been very confident in responding to the plight of citizens in the state” He urged the general public to embrace the strategy of public–private partnership approach put in place by the command

Ozi-Obeh explained that the command received distress call that some group of armed boys were about to kidnap one Okon John Nsi, managing Director of Peace Garden Hotel located along Old Odukpani road calabar. “Based on this information, the team moved to No 14 Ikot Efa Lane, calabar and arrested the two suspect while one Promise escaped.

“On the 18th July 2016, upon complaint received at Ikom Divisional Police Headquarters, a gang of armed robbery suspects invaded the premises of one Ajuwon Tolu and robbed and carted away HP Laptops, Techno Ipad, Nokia Phones and other valuables worth a total of N549, 200 and a physical cash of N81, 000. Three suspects were arrested.

“Interestingly, on 17th August 2016, another complaint was received from Odukpani Police Division Headquarters that a gang of robbery suspects blocked the road at Mkpara Village along calabar-Itu road and attacked a vehicle with registration no FST 202 XR, robbed the driver and it occupants and catered away their phones and physical cash which amount was not known. Five suspects were arrested”, the police boss stated.

On cultism and unlawful possession of firearms, the CP said “Through intelligence led Policing some suspected cultists were arrested by a team of a team of Police Surveillance attacked to X Squad, cross river command. Four suspected cultists were arrested while one Ndifreke Idarasit was arrested for possession of arms.

The CP however said that the command will leave no stone unturned in her effort towards riding the state of the activities of miscreant, “I therefore want to use this medium to ward all criminals and perpetrators of heinous crime to steer clear as they will not be spared”