Suspected armed robber in A’Ibom police net

Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have arrested a suspected armed robber and recovered a locally fabricated firearm during an operation in Uyo, the state capital.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

John said the suspect, identified as Edidiong Udoeyen, was arrested on Saturday following a distress call from residents reporting that suspected robbers were operating in Ikot Okubo Village in Uyo Local Government Area.

According to the PPRO, police officers on stop-and-search duty along the Mayflower axis of Oron Road received the distress call at about 10:30pm and immediately mobilised to the community.

She noted that the operatives collaborated with vigilant youths in the area to cordon off and search the neighbourhood, leading to the arrest of the suspect and the recovery of a medium-sized locally fabricated firearm.

“On Saturday, June 27, 2026, at about 10:30 pm, operatives of the Command deployed on stop-and-search duty along the Mayflower axis of Oron Road, Uyo, swiftly responded to a distress call from a concerned resident of Ikot Okubo Village, Uyo Local Government Area, reporting that suspected armed robbers were actively operating within the community.

“Acting promptly on the information, the police operatives mobilised to the scene where they collaborated with vigilant members of the community youth to cordon off and comb the affected area.

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“The coordinated operation led to the arrest of one suspect identified as Edidiong Udoeyen, while a medium-sized locally fabricated firearm was recovered from his possession,” the statement read.

She added that other suspected members of the gang escaped upon sighting the police, noting that a manhunt had commenced to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

The PPRO stated that the arrested suspect remained in police custody and would undergo a thorough investigation to determine his level of involvement in the alleged criminal activities and identify other members of the gang.

John noted that the state’s Commissioner of Police commended members of the community for providing timely information that aided the success of the operation.

“He reiterates that effective policing thrives on active partnership between the police and the public,” the statement added.

The commissioner also assured residents that the command would sustain intelligence-led and proactive policing strategies to deny criminals a haven across the state.

He urged members of the public to continue providing credible information to security agencies, assuring them that all information received would be treated with utmost confidentiality.