The Commissioner of Police (CP), Akwa Ibom State, Baba Azare, has expressed concern over incessant deaths of officers and men at roadblocks, explaining that such grievous circumstances informed the erection of used tyres at checkpoints dotting Uyo, the state capital with attendant traffic snarls.
According to him, the preventive measures became necessary to curtail over -speeding, resulting to avoidable accidents and death faced by officers manning the checkpoints.
He, therefore, urged motorists to bear the discomfort, explaining that such measures have gone a long way to check crimes and reduce high rate of accidents, especially against officers on call duties on major roads.
CP Azare, who made the disclosure at the State Command’s headquarters, Ikot Akpanabia, Uyo, yesterday, where he announced the arrest of a notorious agent running a network of Android phones’ theft and the recovery of 34 phones, assured that no stone would be left unturned in the ongoing crackdown on criminal elements.
He vowed that with the arrest of the ring -leader of the syndicate, efforts were ongoing to track and arrest other accomplices in the crime of receiving stolen mobile phones linked to armed groups.
CP Azare, who stated that the arrest followed intelligence-driven investigations into a recent armed robbery incident along the Calabar-Itu Road axis, recalled that the arrested suspect had earlier been apprehended with dozens of phones, but released on bail.
Wondering why he returned to the same crime after escaping the first arrest, the CP assured he would follow through the process of ensuring the prosecution and punishment of the suspect identified as one Musa Idris.
“The suspect, Musa Idris, was found in possession of 34 assorted Android phones, two button phones, a tricycle, a power bank, rechargeable fan, standing fan, a jack knife and substances suspected to be illicit drugs,” the CP stated, recalling that the suspect had previously been arrested in October 2025 over alleged armed robbery-related offences and possession of more than 200 suspected stolen phones.
“The recovered phones are suspected proceeds of armed robbery operations carried out within and outside Akwa Ibom State. The suspect has provided useful information on a wider network involved in the movement and resale of stolen phones beyond Nigeria’s borders, with efforts ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate,” he stated.
The Police Command also announced the prosecution of Akaninyene Udo, popularly known on social media as “AK Philo,” a fake Whistleblower who raised the alarm of imminent bandits’ invasion through the circulation of a viral post that allegedly caused fear and panic among residents.
According to the CP, the suspect was charged to court following investigations into a post carrying the caption, “Eket get ready for us,” accompanied by the image of an armed bandit. He warned that individuals who create or disseminate false security alerts and misleading information capable of disturbing public peace would face prosecution.
Meanwhile, the Command has commenced enforcement of regulations against vehicles operating without registration plates or with altered, obscured, covered or defaced number plates.
Azare said the exercise is aimed at strengthening security, improving crime detection and preventing criminals from exploiting unregistered vehicles to perpetrate unlawful activities and urged motorists across the state to comply with registration requirements and ensure their number plates remain visible at all times.
