Sunday May 24, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
By Idorenyin UMOREN
Private Investigator and Security Evaluator
Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have seized several suspected cultists, armed robbers, vandals and others including a notorious cybercriminal alleged to be involved in defrauding his unwary victims using names of prominent government officials including the commissioner for Finance, Mr Emem Bob.
This was disclosed in a Press Release by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Timfon John, dated May 23, 2026 in Uyo.
PPRO, Akwa Ibom State Police Command
She said, “Operatives of the Command have arrested one suspected notorious fraudster, who allegedly specialised in impersonating the Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Akwa Ibom State, Hon Emem Bob, to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.”
She identified the suspect as one Imeobong Akpan, a native of Ikot Ekpene Udo village in Nsit Ubium local government area, adding that he was apprehended following a credible complaint lodged on May 22.
“The complainant alerted the Police that an unknown individual had been fraudulently using the name, official identity and photographs of the commissioner on fake social media platforms to deceive members of the public,” she added.
Among the alleged offences listed against the suspect included impersonating the Commissioner for Finance, fraudulently posing as the Personal Assistant (PA) to the Commissioner, luring over ten ladies to hotels under false promises of securing government jobs and obtaining money and exploiting victims through deceitful means.
One mobile phone and other electronic devices recovered, according to her, were currently undergoing forensic analysis, while investigations continue to track and arrest other accomplices.
DSP John also stated that in a series of intelligence-driven operations, the offensives also led to the successful arrest of criminal suspects and recovering offensive weapons.
“On 21st May, 2026, at about 1150hrs, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of a Federal Government College reported that some renovation materials belonging to the school had been stolen from the premises.
“The stolen items, mainly burglary proofs meant for the ongoing renovation of hostel blocks within the institution, were carefully removed from where they had been secured for the Federal Government-backed project,” she recalled.
The intelligence, she explained, led to the arrest of four suspects identified as David Ukpe, 36, a security guard attached to the school with other accomplices -Emmanuel Johnny, 49, Murtala Muhammad, 24, and Sani Abubakar, 41.
Besides, in a separate intelligence-led operation aimed at combating cultism and violent crimes, “operatives of the Command on 22nd May, 2026, at about 2100hrs, intercepted and arrested two suspected cultists and armed robbery suspects while moving under suspicious circumstances on a QLINK motorcycle within Ikot Ekpene LGA.”
DSP John revealed identity of those seized to include Iniobong Albert, 24 years, of Ibiakpan Ikot Edim village in Ibiono Ibom LGA, an HND 1 Civil Engineering student of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua and Daniel Akpan, of Ebo Itubunuso village in Ini LGA, but currently residing at Abiakpo Ntak Inyang village in Ikot Ekpene LGA.
She listed incriminating items recovered as one locally – made shotgun, two live cartridges, a suspected protective charms, one Android phone, one green cross bag, one QLINK motorcycle.
“During interrogation, the principal suspect, Iniobong Albert, reportedly confessed to being a member of the proscribed cult group known as Ku Klux Klans (KKK) Confraternity, and admitted that the suspects were on an unlawful mission before their arrest,” DSP John stated.
The Commissioner of Police (CP), Babs Azare, has reiterated the Command’s zero tolerance for cultism, armed robbery, cybercrime, vandalism, impersonation, and all forms of violent crimes within the state.
