The Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has paraded a group of nine suspected criminals for various criminal involvements including gun running.
The parade was done at the State Command headquarters at Ikot Akpan Abia area, Uyo, the State capital by the State Police Commissioner, CP Murtala Mani.
Emmanuel Akamaba aged 38 and Ezekiel Adie aged 35, were among the nine suspects paraded at the police headquarters for their involvement in gun running.
The commissioner, CP Mani told journalists that the paraded suspects were arrested by operatives of the command at various locations in the state during stop and search operations on highways and roads.
CP Mani said Stop and Search exercise is one the proactive measures taken by the command to rid the Akwa Ibom state of criminal elements.
According to him, two suspects, Emmanuel Akamaba and Ezekiel Adie both from Ogoja in Cross River state were arrested with four locally-made pistols along Calabar/Itu Highway by Safer Highway Patrol team who carried out a search on the vehicle which they traveled with.
In their confessional statement, both Emmanuel and Ezekiel admitted to the crime. “When the police stopped us at their Check Point in Itu, and searched the vehicle we boarded, they discovered the four pistols in our traveling bag. We were going to sell the guns to our agent in Bayelsa at the cost of N100,000.00 each. We bought the guns from the manufacturer in Benue state and we have been in the business for about a year now.”
However, CP Mani who was represented by the state public relations officer (PPRO) of the command, ASP Cordelia Nwawe said that among the paraded suspects was one Blessing Effiong Ambrose who was arrested for human trafficking.
Blessing was allegedly arrested by the Patrol team stationed along Oron-Mbo Highway who intercepted a white colour Toyota Hiace commuter bus with registration number Lagos – JJJ454 XD which Blessing was among the passengers and were travelling from Oron in Akwa Ibom state to Lagos state.
Among the passengers in the bus were six children aged between five and fifteen who were victims of child trafficking by Blessing who was taking them to buyers in Lagos state. The children were however rescued and handed over to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) in Uyo for investigations, the ASP Nwawe stated.
Also paraded were those who robbed worshippers of a Presbyterian Church at Okopedi Itiam village, along Uyo – Ekim Itam Highway, those who were caught with three stolen Perkins sound proof generators purportedly removed from the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), those who were caught with stolen power transformer and other electrical appliances on the way to Lagos from Uyo.
Police said upon proper investigations into the crimes, all those found involved would be prosecuted accordingly.
CP Mani called on members of the public, especially commercial vehicle drivers to always check the luggage of passengers to ascertain the contents before carrying them.
He also warned that the command would not condone crime of any kind in the state, therefore parents should warn their children and wards against keeping bad friends or indulging in crime.
The Police Command appeals to members of the public to bear with the Police when they are asked to stop for a brief check, that it is done for the overall good of all.
