Recover N2 million, arms and ammunitions
The Cross River State police command has arrested eight armed robbery suspects and recovered N2 million from them, the Police Commissioner, Osita Ezechukwu, said.
Speaking on Monday in Calabar at a press briefing to mark his 100th day in office, Ezechukwu said that the police also recovered some arms and ammunition from the suspects.
According to him, the gang had robbed one Ekpo-Anwan Toyo after she withdrew the money from a commercial bank in Calabar.
He said that the suspects’ attempt to escape was not successful as they were caught up in a gridlock.
“Their frantic efforts to escape the traffic hold-up aroused the suspicion of undercover policemen who got them arrested,” she said. “When the vehicle was searched, a Ghana-must-go bag full of clothes, charms and the sum of N2,000,000 cash was recovered.”
Ezechukwu said that six of the suspects were arrested at their hideouts in Calabar South, adding that three vehicles were recovered during the operation.
The commissioner added that another gang of five robbery suspects from Gbedue village in Logo Local Government Area of Benue were also arrested on May 20, 2012.
He said the gang was arrested at Bendeghe in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River.
According to him, items recovered from them included three locally made pistols, 22 live cartridges, three 7.62 live ammunition, 13 cell phones, three motorcycles, one expended cartridge and N46,340.
Similarly, Ezechukwu stated that five suspected cultists, including a woman, who had escaped from police custody in Calabar South had been re-arrested at new Netim in Odukpani Local Government Area.
He said that the police recovered six vehicles during the operation.
The commissioner said the command was committed to reducing the activities of criminals in the state, pledging to engage in “visible” community policing.
He called on members of the public to assist the police by exposing criminals in their neighbourhood.
