How Police raided criminal' hideout in Akwa Ibom, arrested 10 suspects, recovered weapons, cash

The series of coordinated raids were undertaken by a joint task force comprising the army, the police, the Department of State Security Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC.

It resulted in the arrest of 10 persons said to be directly linked to recent killings of police officers in the State.

Commissioner of Police in the state Mr Andrew Amiengheme said on June 1 that officers also recovered different types of items including vehicles, rifles and ammunition, cash, police uniforms, computers, phones, and SIM cards.

CP Andrew Amiengheme said N63,330 cash was recovered.
It would be recalled that in the recent past, there had been series of attacks on security agencies and formations leading to loss of lives and property.

At least 23 police officers were killed.

This necessitated the formation of a Joint Task Force (JTF), whose operations have yielded a lot of successes, according to CP Amiengheme.

The police commissioner said the raids took place at Ntak Ikot Akpan, Abama and Ikot Akpan in Essien Udim, Obot Akara and Ikot Ekpene local government areas by the Joint Task Force.

He said the following items were recovered at different locations:

One (1) grey coloured Toyota Hilux with Reg. No. ENU 762 YJ
One (1) white and ash coloured Mitsubishi bus with Reg. No. XE 276 ABA
One (1) white coloured Sino Truck with Reg. No. SSM 505 ZR
One (1) blue Toyota Corolla with Reg. No. GWA 955 BF
Four (4) motorcycles
Four (4) AK 47 Rifles
Four (4) G3 rifles
Eight(8) Dane Guns
Three (3) Riot Guns
Twenty-eight (28) AK-47 magazines
Two (2) G3 magazines
Six hundred and fifty-four (654) rounds of ammunition
Ten (10) cartridges
Ninety-six (96) Smoke cartridges
One (1) Smoke Grenade
Twenty-one (21) teargas bombs
Thirty-nine (39) Hand Grenade Anti-Riot irritants
Seven (7) smoke respirators
Six (6) Rioters shield
Five (5) Bullet Proof Plates
Three (3) Handcuffs
Two (2) Leg Chains
Seven (7) Cutlasses
One (1) axe
Police ID card
Two (2) Police batons
Ten (10) Police Beckets
Seven (7) Police belts
One (1) pair of woman Police uniform
One (1) fragmental jacket
Sixteen (16) combat boots
One (1) twine rope
One (1) Motorola walkie talkie
Fifteen (15) GSM phones
Sixteen (16) Combat Boots
Four (4) torchlight
Thirty seven (37) clothe materials
Two (2) number plates
Two (2) Generating sets
One (1) Saw machine
Bank Cheques/Teller/SIM cards
Four (4) Public Address System
Two (2) Desktop CPU
One (1) Printer
Two (2) Scanning machines
Two (2) Desktop Monitors
One (1) UPS
Two (2) Mouse and two (2) Keyboards.
Sixty (60) office staplers
Two (2) 16 Inch LG television set
Assorted types Chargers/Extension Wires
One (1) LG DVD player
Assorted Jewelries
One (1) Car Battery
One (1) First Aid Box,
Assorted Drugs,
Seven (7) Wire Cutters,
Three (3) Shovels,
Six (6) sets of cooking utensils
Six (6) metal buckets
One (1) umbrella
The sum of sixty-three thousand, three hundred and thirty naira (N63,330.00)

Amiengheme stated that the owners of the above-mentioned vehicles are to go to 6 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Ibagwa with proof of ownership for identification and collection or contact the State Police Headquarter, Uyo.

"Let me sincerely appreciate the immense contribution of the Nigerian Army and other sister Security Agencies.

"We will continue to work as a team in securing Akwa Ibom State. I urge Akwa Ibomites to go about their lawful duties without fear of molestation and never relent in being vigilant and giving timely information to the Police and other security agencies.

"Our warm gratitude is also to the Government and good people of Akwa Ibom State,ÔÇØ he added.