Police parade robbers, fake cops

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command on Wednesday paraded three robbery suspects and three fake policemen.PUNCH METROlearnt that the suspected robbers, who specialise in robbing passengers of their money and phones after luring them into a cab. The other three suspects posed as policemen to extort money from their victims.The suspected robbers, Ugochukwu Ani, Chioma Okoro and Anita James. They were arrested near the Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation premises on the Calabar/Itu Highway.A black Vento Volkswagen with registration number DS 758 ENG used by the gang for operation was impounded by the police.The police said the modus operandi of the suspects was to put a bag supposedly containing eggs at the back seat of their car while passengers were lured to sit beside the bag.The front seat would later be occupied by another member of the gang, while another sits with the passengers at the back. As the vehicle moves, the passengers would then be robbed of their valuables.The three fake policemen, who said they had robbed three persons since they began operation in May are Ndifreke Nkereuwem, Samuel Okon and Aniedi John.The three suspects were arrested by the police with the help of youths, who were angered when one of them was beaten up and robbed.Items recovered from the suspects included a police identity card, helmet and a photograph.In another development, two kidnap victims, Emayak Udo and Andrew Abasiekong were rescued while two vehicles and a bus used by those who abducted them were impounded by the police.The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, said the command had launched a manhunt for fleeing members of the different gangs.These successes notwithstanding, the command has re-strategised its operational apparatus adopting an intelligent led and proactive approach to checkmating crime in the state, Arase said.He urged members of the public to make the tackling of crime a collective responsibility by engaging in community policing, saying that partnership with police will engender crime-free society.
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