By Ada Wodu, Punch Newspaper
Forty-one suspected armed robbers, kidnappers and gangsters have been paraded by the Cross River State Police Command.
The suspects were paraded on Wednesday by the State Commissioner of Police, Uche Anozia, at the command headquarters, Calabar.
Among the suspects is Francis Jeremiah, who allegedly defiled his nine-year-old step-daughter in Bakassi.
Jeremiah, according to the Police, allegedly committed the offence “while armed with a machete, tied the mouth of the victim with a piece of cloth and forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of her. He thereafter, threatened the victim not tell her mother.”
Eleven suspects were arrested for alleged armed robbery, 19 for gangsterism, while one was apprehended for advanced fee fraud, and another for unlawful possession of firearms, among others.
Items recovered from the suspects include 14 firearms, 20 pieces of ammunition, eight cartridges, four machetes, two Toyota Camry cars, one motorcycle and a tricycle, among others.
One of the suspects, Christian Awor, 19, allegedly took a four-year-old boy into a bush in Ikom and strangled him.
The boy’s grandmother, Asu Caroline, had earlier reported to the Police that he was missing.
Another murder suspect, Bekeh Patrick, of Okoshie village in Obudu, allegedly shot dead Elizabeth Beshe, 46, with a locally-made pistol during a burial.
The CP said 16 suspected members of the Klans and Vikings confraternities were arrested on May 2, 2020.
Anozia stated, “On May 2, 2020, around 8.10pm, gang rivalry ensued between the Klans and the Vikings confraternities within and outside the metropolis. Based on intelligence, 16 suspects were arrested. Eight locally-made pistols, six live cartridges, four machetes and one axe were recovered from them.
“Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to belonging to various gangs. They will be charged as soon as investigation is completed.
“I want to reiterate that the command’s doggedness and resilience in proactive policing will never wane during and after this global COVID-19 pandemic experience.”