The Cross River State Police Command has arrested four additional suspects and recovered stolen structural iron materials linked to the ongoing investigation into the vandalism and theft at Akamkpa Quarry Limited, popular as Sterling Global.
​The latest arrests were carried out by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Sector 2 (Akamkpa/Ugep axis), following intelligence-led tracking operations and assistance from local community members in Obung Village.
​Confirming the operation in a statement issued from the Command Headquarters in Calabar, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, disclosed that the suspects were apprehended in connection with the systematic looting of industrial equipment at the quarry facility located in the Akamkpa Local Government Area.
​During the operation, police operatives recovered two long iron poles and six iron reinforcement baskets. This follows an earlier raid around Nsang Junction where two initial suspects, Kelvin Ignatius (27) and Arnold Okon (29), were arrested with three long iron poles, bringing the total number of key suspects in custody to six.
​According to police authorities, preliminary interrogations revealed that the criminal syndicate was involved in the recurring theft of heavy industrial materials, engine oil, diesel, and truck tyres belonging to Sterling Global.
​Reacting to the breakthrough, the Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Ajo-Geoffrey Ordue, commended the VCRU officers for their prompt response and extended praise to the Obung Community leadership for providing timely, actionable intelligence.
​”The Command remains firm in its commitment to intelligence-led policing and protecting critical infrastructure across the state,” CP Ordue stated. “All suspects will remain in police custody while investigations are sustained to dismantle the entire vandalism network and recover outstanding stolen property”.
​The police command has urged the public to maintain vigilance and continue reporting suspicious activities around key industrial sites and public infrastructure to aid crime prevention efforts.
