UYO, Akwa Ibom State — The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a suspected murderer who had been on the run for nearly six months and dismantled an armed robbery syndicate terrorising residents of Ibiono Ibom and Itu Local Government Areas, authorities have confirmed.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Timfon John, disclosed the twin breakthroughs in a statement on Thursday, noting that the operations also led to the recovery of a locally made Dane gun, a single-barrel gun, eight live cartridges, and a suspected stolen motorcycle.
In the first operation, operatives arrested one Nsikak Akpan of Ikot Akpan-Edemaya in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area over the alleged murder of one Markanson, who was also from the same community. According to police, the suspect allegedly committed the offence on January 6, 2026, and then fled the area to evade arrest.
After months of intelligence gathering and surveillance, operatives tracked and arrested him on June 30 at about 5:30 p.m. During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime, while the locally made Dane gun allegedly used in committing the murder was recovered. The suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue ahead of prosecution.
In a separate operation, police operatives dismantled a suspected armed robbery syndicate known for snatching motorcycles at gunpoint in Ibiono Ibom and Itu local government areas. The operation, carried out on June 29, led officers to the gang’s hideout at Nasarawa Market in Mbak Itam Village, where one Destiny Ekong, 22, of Afaha Ube Itam in Itu Local Government Area, was arrested.
An unregistered Mate C90 motorcycle suspected of being stolen was recovered during the raid. Further intelligence led to the arrest of another suspect, Anietie John, 50, of Mbiakpan Atan Village. A search of his residence resulted in the recovery of a single-barreled gun and eight rounds of live cartridges believed to be linked to criminal activities.
“Both suspects are currently assisting the police with ongoing investigations aimed at apprehending other fleeing members of the criminal network and recovering additional exhibits,” John stated.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Baba Mohammed Azare, commended the officers involved in the operations and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling crime across the state. He warned individuals involved in criminal activities to either abandon their unlawful acts or be prepared to face the full weight of the law, stressing that the Command’s intelligence architecture has been significantly strengthened to detect, disrupt, and dismantle criminal networks across the state.
The commissioner also appreciated residents for supporting the police with timely information and urged them to continue providing credible intelligence, assuring them that such information would be treated confidentially.
The arrests represent a significant boost to security efforts in Akwa Ibom State, which has faced challenges with violent crime in recent months. The command has intensified its intelligence-led operations across the state, with similar successes recorded in earlier operations.
