The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a village head, Chief Okon Asuquo Eteokpo, and other suspects in connection with the murder of vigilantes from the State Ministry of Internal Security and Inland Waterways.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Timfon John, two corpses of the three murdered marine hunters were exhumed from shallow graves with their heads severed in Unyenghe, Mbo Local Government Area.
ASP John stated, “Akwa Ibom State Police Command has exhumed bodies of marine hunters of the Ministry of Internal Security and Inland Waterways who were kidnapped, murdered, and buried by notorious criminals in Unyenghe, Mbo Local Government Area.”
He added that the command received information on August 18 about the abduction and killing of the marine hunters and subsequently arrested several suspects, including the village head, who is alleged to be their ally and spiritual fortifier.
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The suspects are Anthony Archibong, 46, Emmanuel Emmanuel Otoyo, 18, Daniel Edet Okon, 26, Eniete Harry Tom, 34, and Joseph Okon, 44. Fifteen live cartridges were recovered from them.
ASP John said, “Upon their arrest, a combined team of the command launched a search for the corpses and found them buried in shallow graves after hours of frantic toil, with their heads dismembered. They were three, but we recovered two.”
The police command assured the public that it remains committed to ridding the state of crime and criminal elements, appealing to the public to report suspicious people and movements within their domain to the nearest police station.
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