Police foils robbery attempt, cautions the public on use of fireworks
Emmanuel Alfred
Four men suspected to be armed robbers were arrested by the officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Cross River State in Nigeria, after they attempted to rob an old-generation bank on Saturday, December 24, 2022, in Calabar.
According to reports, the said suspects have been terrorising residents of some areas in Calabar and carrying out their nefarious operations, especially around the EPZ, Harbour Road, Ikot Ansa as well as Esuk Utan area of the Metropolis.
An anonymous security source said: “Based on credible intelligence, the Supol in charge of EPZ (Export Processing Zone) mobilised a tactical team and stormed the bank, apprehending 4 out of the 9 suspects.
“The 4 suspects include Joshua Samuel 22, Innocent Edom 20, Samuel Okon 28, and Mohammed Salisu 29 – these were the ones who were carrying out surveillance for the remaining 5 armed men outside waiting to strike.
“During the preliminary inquiry, the suspects confessed to having been on a surveillance mission with the intent to alert other gang members on when to strike and rob the bank.
“We are definitely going to get the remaining members of the group because they have been terrorising residents of the metropolis, especially Ikot Ansa and Esuk Mba communities, all in Calabar Municipality Local Government Area of Cross River State”.
Confirming the incident, Commissioner of Police CP Sule Balarabe, Commissioner of Police in Cross River said they will go deeper to ensure everyone involved is being arrested.
He said, “We have them in our custody and we will go even deeper till we get others who are involved – we are leaving no stone unturned”.
The CP also warned criminal elements who are bent on causing havoc in the State to either leave the town or stay law-abiding, or else they would be ruthlessly dealt with.
He said: “All the commanders of our tactical teams, DPOs are on red alert to deal decisively with criminal elements in any part of the state, within the ambit of the law and in the most professional manner.
“My officers and men have stepped up policing holistically across the length and breadth of the state.
“In achieving this task, the command has carried out massive deployment of personnel and tools in critical infrastructures, recreational centres and directed aggressive vehicular and foot patrols before, during and after the festive season”.
In another vein, CP Balarabe warned potential dealers and users of fireworks to desist from the illegal business venture, urging parents and guardians to caution their wards and children from patronising them, given the security situation in the country.
According to him, “The command is resolute and will not renege in dealing decisively with hoodlums, political thugs, all forms of illegal or unapproved processions with a view to breaching the peace we enjoy across the state by invoking the extant laws of the state and federal laws accordingly”.
