August 20, (THEWILL) — The Akwa Ibom State Police Command says it has recorded two major breakthroughs in its fight against crime, with the arrest of a three-man armed robbery gang in Uyo and the rescue of 20 trafficked Ghanaians in the state capital.
Police spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, in separate statements, said the Command’s intelligence-led operations not only took a notorious robbery syndicate off the streets but also uncovered a suspected international human trafficking network.
On August 12, 2025, a 32-year-old woman was robbed at gunpoint while on a morning walk along Believers Assembly Road by Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo. Two men on a motorcycle carted away her iPhone 12 Pro worth ₦650,000.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the gang had robbed at least five other residents in the city during early morning hours.
Acting on intelligence, police operatives arrested one Ubong Michael Patrick, 27, from Ikpa Ibiono in Ibiono Ibom LGA.
His confession led to the arrest of two accomplices: Ibrahim Kanu, 20, from Adamawa State, and Nazipi Dahiru, 25, from Gombe State, both residents of Nassarawa in Itam, Itu LGA.
Recovered from the suspects were a black operational motorcycle, a locally-made pistol, and a dagger. Investigations further revealed that the gang transported stolen phones to Kano for resale. Efforts are ongoing to recover the stolen property.
In a separate operation on August 18, police operatives stormed a compound in Obio Etoi village, Uyo, and rescued 20 Ghanaian nationals, 10 men and 10 women, after receiving a request for assistance from the Ghana Police Service and INTERPOL.
The victims, found in a heavily fenced building, appeared disoriented and unable to give coherent accounts of their situation, raising suspicions that they may have been hypnotized. Investigations into the trafficking syndicate are still ongoing.
DSP John assured residents of the Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly.
