Cross Rivers Police Nab, Parade 47 Suspects; Armed Robbers, Internet Fraudsters, Cultists, Rapists dominate List

The Police in Cross River State on Thursday paraded 47 suspects, arrested in the last one month for various crimes, across the state.

Commissioner of Police in the state Hafiz Inuwa said 10 of the suspects were arrested for armed robbery, 9 for internet fraud, 8 for cultism, and 7 for unlawful possession of firearms amongst others.

The Police disclosed that one of the suspects, Effiong Edet Eyo a.k.a Ettemma, who had been on the police wanted list, was arrested on February 22, 2018, for the shooting and murder of Ekerette Dick, a Police Sergeant, attached to 11 Police Mobile Squadron, Calabar, in 2016.

The late sergeant’s service rifle was also stolen by the suspect and his gang.

Eyo’s accomplice, one Odey Cyprian Samuel, was earlier arrested and charged to court, the police said.

Speaking while interacting with the media in his office, CP Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa, also paraded two armed robbery suspects, Samuel Williams and Archibong Ita, who robbed a Lebanese, Elias Awab, of 3 Samsung Galaxy phones, 2 computers and N350, 000 in cash.

Awab maintained that this is the second time the same gang robbed him.

Two other criminals, Ibah B. Edet and Inyang Akwanyene, aged 23 and 22 years old respectively, were arrested, the CP said, on suspicion for conspiracy and rape, after one Joy Umoh, alleged that the duo invited her to Harris Guest House, along Atimbo road and drugged the bottle of drink they offered her.

Edet and Akwanyene then forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge with her and videotaped all that transpired.

The video was later used in intimidating and demanding a ransom from the victim with the promise to make the video viral, if she fails to comply.

The suspects told claimed that “the video was shot in error and that Joy agreed to make love to the two of them when she got to the hotel.”

CP Inuwa at the interactive session, also drew the attention of the general public to the fact that a 3-week window for voluntary return and handover of all prohibited firearms whether locally manufactured or foreign ones, would soon expire.

“Those who refuse to do so, risk prosecution at the expiration of the window” he said.

“All well-meaning Cross Riverians should join hands with the police and other security agencies to combat crime and bring peace to the state” he added.

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