Police in Akwa Ibom arrest two over alleged machete attacks, robberies

The Nigeria Police Force in Akwa Ibom State has arrested two men over alleged machete attacks and robberies targeting women in Uyo.

The arrest occurred less than 24 hours after the police called on victims of the alleged Uyo machete attacks to make formal reports to the command.

The suspects are Wisdom Effiong, 27, and Yakub Abdullah, whom the police accused of receiving some of the items allegedly stolen during the attacks.

The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, Timfon John, a deputy superintendent of police.

According to the statement, Mr Effiong, from Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, was arrested following information and reports about the alleged attacks circulated on social media.

The suspect, who the police said resides in Ikot Okubo Village, Uyo Local Government Area, allegedly used a machete to attack and rob women in different parts of the city.

“During the course of investigation, the Police also arrested Yakub Abdullah ‘M’ of Udi Street, Uyo, who is alleged to have received some of the items reportedly stolen during the attacks,” the statement said.

The police said preliminary investigation indicated that the stolen items were handed over to Mr Abdullah by Mr Effiong.

Items recovered from the suspects include a machete, a woman’s handbag, a Tecno POP 5 Android phone, an iPhone 11, a Remi Android phone and three power banks.

The command said seven women have so far identified Mr Effiong as the person who allegedly attacked and robbed them.

It said investigations were continuing to establish the full extent of the suspects’ involvement and identify other possible victims or accomplices.

The police consequently appealed to residents who may have been attacked or robbed in connection with the incidents to report to the Police Public Relations Unit at the command or the nearest police station.

The command said additional reports would help investigators identify more victims and strengthen the ongoing investigation.

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The police said the suspects remain in police custody and will be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.

The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Baba Azare thanked members of the public for providing information that assisted in the arrests.

On Thursday morning, the police command called on victims of alleged machete attacks in Uyo to make a formal report to the police after information on the attack circulated on social media.

Mr Azare also urged residents to promptly report suspicious activities and criminal incidents to the police.