The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has announced the arrest of a three-man armed robbery syndicate believed to be behind a string of early-morning robberies across the Uyo metropolis.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, said the suspects were apprehended after a thorough investigation and an intelligence-driven operation.
According to the statement, the breakthrough followed a report by a 32-year-old woman residing on Sampson Akpan Street, Uyo, who told police that on August 12, while on a morning walk along Believers Assembly Road by Udo Udoma Avenue, she was attacked by two armed men on a black motorcycle.
The suspects allegedly pointed a locally-made pistol at the victim, threatened her life, and dispossessed her of an iPhone 12 Pro valued at N650,000.
According to the police, further investigations revealed that the syndicate had robbed at least five other individuals on the same day and was responsible for several early-morning armed robberies across Uyo.
Following discreet operations, police operatives apprehended one Ubong Michael Patrick, 27, from Ikpa Ibiono community in Ibiono Ibom LGA. During interrogation, he confessed to the crime and led officers to the arrest of two accomplices: Ibrahim Kanu, 20, from Gorore community in Adamawa State, and Nazipi Dahiru, 25, from Gombe State. Both suspects are residents of Nasarawa community in Itam, Itu LGA.
Items recovered from the gang include a black operational motorcycle, a locally-made pistol, and a long dagger.
The Command’s spokesperson added that preliminary findings showed the stolen phones were being packaged and transported to Kano State for resale to unsuspecting buyers. She noted that efforts are ongoing to recover the stolen items.
