The Akwa Ibom State Police Command says it has “neutralised” a notorious armed robber, one Wisdom Sunday Akpan, who has been on its wanted list for some time.
The police said Akpan was killed by operatives of the command’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team when he shot at the operatives who wanted to arrest him. The police noted that Akpan was a member of a dreaded armed robbery gang, led by the late Malachi Uwem Friday.
These were contained in a statement on Friday in Uyo by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon.
According to the statement, titled ‘Akwa Ibom Police neutralized notorious armed robber, Wisdom Sunday Akpan’, the deceased was responsible for the murder of about 13 persons and maiming of 22 others whom he had dispossessed of their valuables.
The statement partly read, “One of the most deadly armed robbers on Akwa Ibom State Police Command’s wanted list, one Wisdom Sunday Akpan, responsible for the murder of about 13 persons and shooting of about 22 others, dispossessed innocent Akwa Ibomites, mostly residents of Ikot Ambang, Ikot Efun, Ikot Inuan, Itak, Ikot Osukpong, Okobo Ibiono, etc in Ibiono LGA and parts of Uyo LGA, has been neutralised by operatives of the Command’s SWAT team while he was out for operation.
“The said Wisdom, who shot at police operatives while attempting to arrest him, is a remnant of a dreaded armed robbery gang, led by the late Malachi Uwem Friday. On July 22, he murdered one Nsikan Vincent Udo of Ikot Inua village at Ikot Efun junction and made away with his new Q-link motorcycle.
“On July 8, he shot and injured one Jesse Johnson and two others at a PoS shop at Ikot Ambang junction, while on the 5th of the same month, he shot and maimed one Augustina Dominic at her supermarket.”
The statement noted further that many PoS operators, filling stations, supermarket owners, market men and women had been dispossessed of millions of naira by Wisdom who succeeded in spreading a lot of fear before meeting his Waterloo.
“Exhibits recovered from him are a locally reconstructed pump action with the look of an AK-47, cartridges, a Q-link motorcycle, assorted charms, a mask, etc,” it added.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durosinmi, who thanked residents for providing useful information that led to the murder of the armed robber, warned criminals to leave the state immediately or get ready to be dealt with.
