CITIZENS COMPASS— The Akwa Ibom State Police Command on Thursday, said it has arrested a suspected native doctor for allegedly providing charms for armed robbers thereby shielding them from arrest.
The suspect was arrested alongside five others in an early-morning operation across Ikono, Ini and Obot Akara local government areas.
One of them was said to have specialised in producing fake receipts used to facilitate the sale of suspected stolen motorcycles.
The suspects were members and associates of an armed robbery network believed to be involved in the theft and disposal of motorcycles and other valuables.
The arrests were made in the early hours of Thursday during a coordinated clearance operation conducted by Police operatives in identified criminal hideouts within the three Local Government Areas.
Spokesperson for the Command, DSP Timfon John, confirmed this in a statement indicating that the operation, which was led by the officer in charge of the tactical team, followed sustained intelligence gathering and operational efforts aimed at dismantling the remaining members and associates of the criminal network responsible for a series of criminal activities, particularly the theft and disposal of motorcycles and other valuable items.
Reacting to the arrest, the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, commended the operatives for their courage, professionalism and sustained commitment to intelligence-led policing.
He also directed that the investigation be intensified to recover more stolen property, establish the individual roles of the suspects and apprehend other members or collaborators still at large.
“Akwa Ibom Police Command remains resolute: criminal hideouts will not be safe havens. We will find you, we will disrupt your networks, and we will bring offenders to justice”.
Items recovered from the suspects include 2 single-barrel shotguns, 3 laptops, 1 suspected stolen Qlink motorcycle, Local charms and fetish materials.
