By Archibong Jeremiah
The Acting Commissioner of Police, Cross River State command, Mr. Kwajima Yahi has assured Cross Riverians that the police will provide adequate security for lives and property during the ember months festivities which usually witness a spike in crime level.
Mr. Kwajima made the declaration at the Police Head Quarters, Diamond Hill, Calabar yesterday after parading 26 suspects allegedly involved in criminal activities in different parts of the state in the month of October.
He said: “We as a security agency in Cross River are assuring members of the public that the carnival and other festivals coming will be crime free”.
He added that, his men will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that perpetrators of crime are kept out of the state or in jail during the ember months while soliciting with members of the public to support the force in any way possible to help protect them.
In a statement signed by the command’s public relations officer, Mr. Bassey Hogan, and handed to journalists, the police said in the month of October, there were 3 cases of kidnapping, one case of stolen child and three armed robbery cases.
According to the statement, “On The 12/10/2014 at about 8:30pm, one Godwin Ako, a native of Otukpo in Benue State but residing at Ishie street Calabar was kidnapped and kept for 6 days and released after payment of N600, 000 ransom.
“On receipt of the report the police swung into action which resulted in the arrest of the following persons Asu Xixtus Okabe ‘M’, Sampson Ubi ‘M’, Austin Abang ‘M’, Akan Mathew Effah, Lambert Bisong Agbor ‘M’, Basil Olom, Ekpenyong Emmanuel and Mary Xixtus Asu ‘F’ who have all made useful statement to the police.
“On 25/10/2014 one Macies Jasek ‘M’ of no. 1 Effangha Mkpa street, State Housing Estate, Calabar, a Polish national was kidnapped at Stanbic IBTC bank along Marian road, Calabar at about 01:30 hours and taken to Ekorinim area in Calabar Municipality by the same group namely Austin Xixtus Okabe ‘M’, Sampson Ubi ‘M’ and six others.
“The victim was kept hostage in the house of Austin Xixtus Okabe for five days and they demanded for N50, 000, 000 ransom but the victim was rescued successfully without paying ransom.
“On 9/10/2014 one Chief Samuel Onyeaka ‘M’ of no. 144 old Odukpani road Calabar was kidnapped at 8:30pm at no. 16 Ikot Efa Lane Calabar and taken to Oron creek in Akwa Ibom State. Investigation carried out by the police led to the arrest of Emmanuel Genesis both of Bayelsa state, others still at large. Suspects have all made useful statement and victim rescued and re-united with his family.
“On 16/5/2014 one Destiny Kingsley Bassey of no. 3 Okon Ekpo Street Calabar was stolen. The following suspects were arrested Uduak Charles Asuquo ‘F’, Samuel Okon alias Maintain and Adia-Akpan Hogan alias Lovett ‘F’ and charged to court, while Samuel Bassey that was on the run has now been arrested and is helping the police to rescue the stolen child that was sold in Aba, Abia State.
“On 2/10/2014 at about 2:30am one Godfrey Preye Eso ‘M’ of no. 9 Affiong Edem street, Calabar reported that armed robbers numbering about five stormed his residence and broke into his home and stole his plasma TV and other valuable properties worth several thousand of naira. A suspect named Benjamin Chukwudi ‘M’ who confessed to the crime and mentioned four of his cohorts who were arrested and interrogated but they denied their involvement in the case, suspects will soon be charged to court.
“11/10/2014 at about 8a.m one Akeem Ibrahim ‘M’ of no. 6 Ndidem Usang Iso road Calabar was robbed with kitchen knife and a mask. On investigation the police arrested one Eneobong Jimmy Effiong and Donald Samuel ‘M’. And the duo confessed to the offence and mentioned one Brown Moses and Baba Haruna, all males now at large and that the arrangement for the robbery was made in Browns house at no. 25 WAPI – Anansa road, Calabar.
“They robbed the complainant in his shop where the sales boy was tied down and goods like shoes, bangles, wrist watches, T-shirts, polo shirts bags and other items worth millions of naira were catered away by the robbers. Meanwhile some of the items stolen were recovered from the buyer suspect and will soon be charged to court on completion of investigation”.
When CrossRiverWatch interacted with some of the suspects who were involved in the kidnapping of the Polish national, Mr. Austin Xixtus, he admitted that his offence was keeping the kidnapped polish national, Mr. Macies Jasek in his house at No. 15 Spring road.
According to him, Mary, one of the suspects is his wife and she is just a house wife and she is innocent as she has no knowledge of the kidnappings, while Mr. Sampson Ubi, a serving Police Corporal denied his involvement in any kidnapping and said he was wrongfully dismissed from the Police.
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