CP Baba Mohammed Azare, mnipr, fsi. Commissioner of Police.
By Dianabasi Effiong
The Police Command in Akwa Ibom says it recorded a significant breakthrough in the investigation of a case of N4.2 million armed robbery, criminal conspiracy, and alleged invocation of juju within the Uyo metropolis.
This was made known in a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer,
DSP Timfon John, on Friday in Uyo.
She stated: “Sometime in November 2025, the Command received a petition dated 20th November 2025.
“According to the petition, the complainant stated that on 19th November 2025, while standing along Uruan Street, Uyo, to board a commercial vehicle, a saloon car stopped and invited her to enter.
“Unknown to her, the occupants of the vehicle were members of a criminal syndicate.
“After driving for some distance, the suspects diverted to a different route, produced a firearm, and forcefully robbed her of her ATM card.”
The statement added that the complainant was subsequently compelled at gunpoint to disclose her ATM Personal Identification Number (PIN).
According to the statement, the suspects allegedly invoked juju, hypnotised the victim, and forcefully escorted her to her residence, where they ransacked her home and robbed her of ₦900,000 in physical cash.
“Further investigation revealed that the syndicate also withdrew an additional ₦3,300,000 from the victim’s bank account through her ATM card, transferring the funds into different bank accounts, bringing the total loss to ₦4.2 million.
“Upon receipt of the report, operatives of the Command immediately swung into action. Following diligent intelligence gathering, the Police on 3rd February 2026 arrested one Benjamin Patrick, male, of No. 29 Ebong Isong Street, Uyo, whose bank account and Point of Sale (POS) terminals were used to withdraw the stolen funds within a five-minute interval.
“The victim positively identified the suspect as one of the individuals who conveyed her in the vehicle where she was robbed of her ATM card. The suspect is currently in custody.
The PPRO also stated that in the course of the investigation, three Point of Sales (POS) machines used in the illegal withdrawal of the funds were recovered, adding investigation had begun “to uncover the full network, recover the stolen funds, and arrest other members of the syndicate.”
The Police Command in the state also assured the public that it would ensure that perpetrators involved in the alleged heinous crime were brought to justice.
The statement also restated the Command’s resolve to continually rid the state of criminal elements,
“The Command warns criminal elements that Akwa Ibom State is not a haven for crime and urges members of the public to remain vigilant, avoid boarding suspicious vehicles, and promptly report suspicious activities to the Police,” the statement added.
