The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has recorded another significant operational breakthrough in its sustained efforts to combat armed robbery and other violent crimes in the State, following the arrest of a suspected member of a robbery syndicate and the recovery of items allegedly stolen from a victim at gunpoint.
A statement signed by the command public relations officer DSP Timfon John said the breakthrough occurred on 21 August 2026, when operatives of the Command, while conducting a purposeful stop-and-search operation along Mbak Itam, intercepted a tricycle with registration number PBT 322 QN, ridden by one Wisdom Edet, male.
The tricycle, which had two passengers seated behind the rider, reportedly failed to stop when flagged down by the operatives and sped off. The Police team immediately commenced pursuit.
During the pursuit, the two passengers reportedly jumped out of the moving tricycle and escaped into the surrounding area, while the rider was successfully apprehended by the operatives.
A thorough search of the tricycle subsequently led to the recovery of several items suspected to be proceeds of criminal activities. The recovered exhibits include:
* One HP laptop
* One PS4 game player
* One torchlight
* Two face caps
* One power bank
* One key wallet holder
* One black eyeglass
* Two phone chargers
* One white long-sleeved shirt
* One nose mask
* One long-sleeved jean jacket
At about 1000hrs on the same date, one Samuel, male, reported at the Police Station and positively identified the HP laptop and PS4 game player as his property. He stated that the items were allegedly stolen from him during a robbery at gunpoint.
The victim also identified some of the recovered clothing items as being similar to those worn by the perpetrators during the robbery.
The arrest and recovery followed the Commissioner of Police’s sustained directive for intensified intelligence-led policing, proactive surveillance, targeted stop-and-search operations and aggressive pursuit of criminal elements operating within the State.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, commended the operatives for their alertness, courage and professionalism. He noted that the successful recovery of the suspected stolen items further demonstrates the Command’s determination to deny criminal elements the freedom to operate and ensure that victims of violent crime receive justice.
The Command further urges members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible and timely information on suspicious persons, movements and activities to the Police. Such information will be treated with the necessary confidentiality and may prove decisive in preventing crime and apprehending criminal elements.
The message remains clear: criminality has no safe space in Akwa Ibom State. The Police will continue to pursue, apprehend and bring offenders to justice.
