Police neutralise 2 robbery suspects, arrest 1 in Akwa Ibom

News Agency Of Nigeria

September 21, 2023 12:28 PM

The State's PRO stated that the armed robbers engaged them in a gun duel which two were fatally injured, while one was arrested.

Nigerian police officers (image used for illustration) [Credit: Google]

The Nigeria Police Force, Akwa Ibom Command, says it has neutralised two suspected armed robbers and arrested another in Uyo, the state capital.

The command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) SP Odiko MacDon disclosed this in a statement in Uyo and made available to newsmen on Thursday.

MacDon said the command received a distress call on Sept. 19, at about 01:50am of an armed robbery incident at Udoette School Road, UNIUYO by Ikpa road area, Ikot Udoro and environs in Uyo Local Government Area.

He said that in response to the distress call, men of Quick Response Unit of the command swung into action and on sighting the police, the armed robbers allegedly engaged them in a gun duel.

The PRO said during the gun duel, two of the notorious robbers were fatally injured, while one Godswill Isaac was arrested. He listed some of the items recovered from the arrested suspect to include, 4 locally made pistols, 15 live cartridges, 2 expanded cartridges, 1 big iron cutter, 2 machetes, and a dagger.

Other items were, two plasma televisions,1 woofer MP3, 1 HP computer laptop, 10 android phones, 5 smaller phones, ₦15,700 cash and 8 dollars. MacDon said that most of the victims had visited the police command for identification and collection of their belongings.

The PRO further said that operatives of the anti-kidnapping squad of the command had arrested, two wanted notorious armed robbers in the state. MacDom, who gave their names as, Gospel Effiong a.k.a Python, Solomon Okon, a.k.a Eblem, said they were arrested for alleged robbery and rape.

He said that during interrogation, both suspects confessed to be members of a robbery gang responsible for robbing unsuspecting commuters in tricycles and mini buses in Uyo and environs.

MacDon added that the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, CP Olatoye Durosinmi, had warned criminal elements either domiciled or operating in the state to desist from their stock in trade or be ready to be flushed out.

He quoted the CP as saying that the task of keeping Akwa Ibom safe was a task for the command. He noted that the command remained resolute in its determination to rid the state of criminal elements.