The Nigeria Police Force, Akwa Ibom State Command, has made a significant breakthrough in the fight against crime with the discovery of an armoury in a private mortuary in Ekeya, Okobo Local Government Area. The Commissioner of Police, Waheed Ayilara, revealed this during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Ikot Akpabio on Monday.
The Discovery
The police bust followed the arrest of a kidnapping syndicate led by the notorious Ubong Effiong Archibong, alias “Condiment,” responsible for multiple kidnappings and murders in the state. A cache of firearms and ammunition was recovered from the mortuary, including:
– 2 AK-47 rifles
– 2 G3 rifles
– 1 double-barrel rifle
– 1 single-barrel rifle
– 5 magazines
– 7 live rounds of ammunition
Additional Arrests and Confessions
During the briefing, Ayilara also paraded 23-year-old Daniel Edem Okon, who confessed to murdering a commercial motorcyclist and stealing his motorcycle. Okon was arrested along with Samaila Salisu, 20, on July 12, 2024. The decomposed body of the victim, Saviour Anthony Effiong, 45, was exhumed and taken to a morgue.
Other Suspects and Assurances
The Commissioner presented additional suspects involved in various crimes, including kidnapping, rape, trafficking, and vandalism. He assured that all suspects would be charged in court upon completion of investigations and expressed gratitude to the community, government, and security agencies for their collaborative efforts in combating crime.