Police Arrest Eight Robbery Suspects In Cross River

The Cross River Police Command has arrested eight armed robbery suspects and recovered N2 million from them, the Police Commissioner, Osita Ezechukwu, said.

Ezechukwu said  in Calabar at a press briefing to mark his 100 days in office that the police also recovered some arms and ammunition from the suspects.

According to him, the gang had robbed one Mrs Ekpo-Anwan Toyo after she withdrew the money from a commercial banks 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.

“When the vehicle was searched, a Ghana must go bag full of clothes, charms and the sum of N2,000,000 cash was recovered”, he said.

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 said 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 include three locally made pistols, 22 live cartridges, three 7.62 live ammunition and 13 cell phones.

Others were 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.

Ezechukwu 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.