- Arrest Political Assassins
By Akanimo Kufre (Uyo)
Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, CP Don Awunah has said it is critical for his command to partner with relevant Stakeholders in their commitment to stamp out criminal elements inimical to social growth and development of Akwa Ibom State.
The 21st CP in Akwa Ibom told newsmen last Friday in Uyo that his command was determined to sustain the tempo in crime fighting and protection of lives and property. “Our efforts in crime prevention and detection have been intensified through intensive stop and search, vehicular and foot patrol and intelligence gathering. ‘Operation Impact’, a crime reduction strategy has considerably reduced the level of crime in the state.”
Mr Awunah further stated that the successes were largely due to information volunteered by public spirited individuals in the state and most importantly the support and assistance of the state government. some of the success story include taming of cultism acts and arrest of political assassins in the state.
“On 13/05/2017 information gathered from Ikot Udota Community, at Eket Division revealed that a group of young men suspected to be cultists numbering about 12 were beating drums, dancing and shooting guns around the area. They were cordoned and arrested alongside seven female suspects by police men from Eket Division. Also On the 14/5/2017, one Intiedo Immanuel Bob was arrested at Eket Motor Park with locally made pistol and 2.3mm ammunition. Investigation is ongoing.
“The following suspects were arrested Ubong Sabisnus Ekpene, Effiong Inyang Effiong, Umium Thomas Uwe, Vicent Ubong Isaac, Smart Inyenime Besembe, Philip Emmanuel David, Simon Effiong Ekpenyong, Ubong Titus Akpan, Ndikponke abasi Ime Udoh, Mfonabasi Samuel Robert, Nsimi Jackson Ekanem, Ekom Godwin Ekong, Ntiedo Immanuel Bob,” he said.
Items recovered from them were: a human skull, 4 locally made pistols, 2 live cartridges and eight expended cartridges, 7 drums and mystic charms and Large quantity of substance suspected to be Indian hemp and three face caps
CP Awunah also explained that his men arrested eight suspected killers of Obong Ime Willie Atakpa, secretary to the Ukanafun local government council and his visitor, Akaninyene Udoaka on Easter Sunday, 16/04/2017 at his Ukanafun poultry farm.
“On Easter Sunday 16th April, 2017 at about 0930hrs, four armed men with two motorcycles went to the poultry farm of Obong Ime Willie Atakpa, the Secretary of Ukanfun Local Government Council at Ikot Udo Obodo village and shot him dead. A premeditated assassination
“The four armed men namely (1) Godwin Daniel Ikpe Alias One Man Chop ‘m’ (2) Aniefiok Eseme Etukudo alias Barbeach-Archor ‘m’ (3) Saturday Etim Isong alias Saty ‘m’ and (4) English-man were arrested at different locations in Port Harcourt on 22/5/2017, 23/5/2017 and 24/5/2017 respectively and they all confessed to the crime mentioning the caretaker committee Chairman of Ukanafun Local Government Area, Barrister Abasiono Jackson Udomfu ‘m’ as their sponsor. Other suspects arrested in connection with this crime include Akaninyene Sunday Iwok ‘m’ 34yrs, Aniedi Okon Udosen ‘m’ 32yrs and Ekere Friday Joseph ‘m’.
“Items recovered from the suspects include one handset belonging to the deceased Secretary, Obong Ime Willie Atakpa and one red coloured Qlink 125 motorcycle.”
According to CP Awunah all the suspects have been charged to court for conspiracy and murder of the Secretary, Obong Ime Willie Atakpa ‘m’ and Akaninyene Udo Aka ‘m’. Meanwhile, efforts are still ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and recover the weapon used in this dastardly act.
“It is instructive to mention at this juncture that at no time was the issue of amnesty to cult groups contemplated by security agencies. The Akwa Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) was quoted out of context in some social media platform regarding the suspects in this case. Members of secret cults are welcome to publicly renounce their membership of these fraternities.
“However, a criminal’s crooked motive or motives in committing a crime is not an excuse or does it vitiate the offence. In Akwa Ibom State, a criminal must have his day of reckoning in a competent court of jurisdiction.” Mr Awunah added.
He added that the command also recorded arrest of criminals involved in six murder cases, kidnapping, cultism, vandalism and raid on criminal hideout
