The police command in Cross River says its Violence Crime Response Unit has arrested six suspects in connection with alleged burglary, stealing, and robbery cases in Calabar.
The police commissioner, Ajo Ordue, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
Mr Ordue said police arrested four suspects in connection with the alleged burglary of Royaline Technologies, located at 49 Ettagbor Road, Calabar, on June 3.
The suspects are Hassan Ahmad, 38; Jabiru Ibrahim, 35; Usman Garuba, 22; and Abdullalim Hassan, 23.
According to the statement, the suspects were allegedly members of a six-man gang involved in the burglary.
It said Mr Ibrahim was traced to Kano, where police arrested him on September 2 and brought him to Calabar the following day.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that 62 mobile phones of various models, accessories, speakers, earphones and cash amounting to ₦529,000 were allegedly stolen during the incident. The total value of the stolen property is estimated at ₦49,150,715,” he said.
The police chief said that efforts were ongoing to arrest the remaining members of the alleged gang and recover the stolen items.
In a separate operation, Mr Ordue said that VCRU operatives on Wednesday also arrested two suspects in connection with alleged robbery incidents at filling stations around the University of Calabar area.
The suspects, Samuel Udo, 29, and Ezekiel Dominic, 22, were reportedly apprehended by a mob after a distress call from a filling station.
The statement said operatives intervened and rescued the suspects from possible jungle justice before taking them into custody.
According to the statement, preliminary investigation indicates the suspects allegedly posed as customers purchasing fuel before threatening attendants and fleeing with the fuel.
Mr Ordue said officers recovered 20 litres of petrol and a blue tricycle from the suspects, while efforts continued to identify and arrest other persons allegedly connected to the activities.
Mr Ordue commended the VCRU operatives for their investigative diligence, intelligence gathering and interstate coordination, particularly in tracing and arresting one of the suspects in Kano. He directed that both cases be thoroughly investigated and that anyone found culpable be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
(NAN)