Akwa Ibom Police Arrest 40 Armed Robbery Suspects, Cultists

By Olamilekan Alani

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has said that it has arrested 40 people suspected to be involved in armed robbery and cultism activities within Uyo metropolis.

SP Odiko Macdon, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday in Uyo.

Macdon explained that based on intelligence information, the tactical team of the command stormed criminal hideouts on December 10, and arrested the suspects.

“On Thursday, December 10, 2020, at about 0930hrs, Tactical Teams of the police command in Akwa Ibom, relying on credible information, in a painstaking operation stormed criminal hideouts within Uyo metropolis,” Macdon said.

“This is believed to be part of the next of some of the hoodlums responsible for Wednesday night’s breach of peace within Uyo.

“(Some) forty suspected armed robbers/cultists were arrested; 2 locally-made pistols, 5 cutlasses, a bag of substance suspected to be Indian Hemp were among the exhibits recovered.

“On interrogation, suspects claimed to be part of the cult groups responsible for cult-related murder and robberies within Uyo metropolis recently.”

Macdon also said that a discreet investigation was ongoing to determine the extent of their culpability, adding that the 40 suspects would be charged to court immediately after investigations.