July 3 (THEWILL) — The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said it has arrested a murder suspect who had been on the run for about six months.
It also dismantled an armed robbery syndicate and led to the recovery of firearms, ammunition, and stolen motorcycles across different parts of the state.
The command said the operations were carried out through intelligence-led policing and coordinated tactical actions aimed at denying criminals a haven in Akwa Ibom.
In one of the operations, police operatives arrested 42-year-old Nsikak Akpan of Ikot Akpan-Edemaya in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area in connection with the January 6, 2026 killing of Markanson, a resident of the same community.
According to the police, Akpan had been on the command’s wanted list and was apprehended on June 30 after months of surveillance and intelligence gathering.
Police spokesperson DSP Timfon John said the suspect confessed during interrogation, while a locally made dane gun allegedly used in the murder was recovered.
She added that the suspect remains in custody pending prosecution.
In a separate operation, operatives acting on credible intelligence raided a hideout at Nasarawa Market in Mbak Itam Village and arrested 22-year-old Destiny Ekong of Afaha Ube Itam, Itu Local Government Area.
The police recovered an unregistered Mate C90 motorcycle believed to have been stolen from victims in Ibiono Ibom and Itu.
Further investigations led to the arrest of another suspect, 50-year-old Anietie John of Mbiakpan Atan Village.
A search of his residence reportedly yielded a single-barreled gun and eight rounds of live cartridges suspected to be linked to criminal activities.
The police said efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang and recover additional exhibits.
The command also announced another breakthrough in Essien Udim Local Government Area, where officers arrested 42-year-old Bassey Udo Idiong after a distress call alleging that he had stormed a palace armed with a locally made pistol and threatened to shoot a resident.
Police said operatives swiftly responded, disarmed the suspect without incident, and recovered the pistol.
The suspect is currently in custody while investigations continue to determine the source of the firearm and whether he is connected to any wider criminal network.
Commissioner of Police Baba Mohammed Azare commended the officers involved in the operations for their professionalism and resilience, describing the arrests as evidence of the Command’s strengthened intelligence architecture.
He warned criminals to abandon unlawful activities or face the full weight of the law, stressing that the police would continue aggressive operations to detect, disrupt, and dismantle criminal networks across the state.
Azare also thanked residents for their cooperation and urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information, assuring them that all reports would be treated confidentially.
