Ubong Sampson – Uyo
Men of the Nigerian police, Akwa Ibom state command had on Monday arrested a man suspected to be dealing in the manufacturing of locally made guns for criminals.
In a statement by the command’s public relations officer, Odiko MacDon, a surveillance team from the Barracks Road (A) Division had, while on a routine stop and search operation along Uyo Village Road, arrested the suspect identified as Ekike Hector David with eight (8) locally fabricated AK47 Rifles, one (1) Pump Action, one (1) pistol and six (6) Dane Guns.
The suspect, MacDon’s statement gave as a native of Mbiokporo (1) in Nsit Ibom local government area, and a welder who specializes in making locally made rifles and other types of guns, and sells same to criminal elements who, according to the statement, use same in terrorising innocent members of the public.
MacDon, in his statement, hinted that the police commissioner in charge of the command, CP Amiengheme Andy has ordered for an elaborate investigation to aid the arrest of those who patronize the suspect, as well as other conspirators.
Still in the statement, MacDon hinted of another development where the command effected the arrest of one Akan Jimmy Umoh and wife, Rita Jimmy Umoh of Ekpat Iduot village for having conspired to poison one Savior Jimmy Umoh, a 10 year old boy said to be the latter’s stepson and biological son of the former and who the suspects accused of being a witch.
According to the statement, the suspects were caught at about 4:30pm on August 29, 2021, after detectives of Abak Division, relying on information received from one Mfon Francis, swiftly responded and made the arrest.
On interrogation, the statement revealed, the suspects confessed to have administered poisonous concoction called “evil beans” on the child to remove witchcraft, which according to them, a prophecy had claimed was the cause of their economic misfortunes and health challenges, including the poor academic performance of the victim’s half siblings.
MacDon said his men, upon searching the suspect’s house, happened on a bold inscription, “Saviour is the witch of this house” on the wall and said to have been written by one of the suspects, Rita.
Photographs were taken, MacDon revealed further, while the corpse was removed and deposited in the mortuary for autopsy.
In his statement, the PPRO said the CP had assured that the perpetrators of these crimes will be prosecuted, while calling on members of the public to be vigilant and do well in giving the police and its cooperating security agencies timely information that will assist in curbing crimes and criminality.
