Akwa Ibom Police Command, Special Weapons And Tactics Squad, SWAT, has gunned down a serial killer and armed robber identified as Malachi Friday Uwem.
Police report said Uwem’s gang allegedly killed over 15 people in the state, including a female corps member, Chinwendu Lovina Ezeh.
The Akwa Ibom Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Macdon, disclosed this on Thursday in Uyo.
The PPRO revealed that the deadly Uwem, said to be a serial killer and leader of a notorious armed robbery gang that specializes in robbing Point of Sales (POS) operators and filling stations, was killed along two other members of his gang.
The PPRO narrated how some members of the gang were disseminated, said, “the state Commissioner of Police, CP Andrew Amiengheme, was committed to his vow to spare no resources in ridding the state of criminal elements, and had warned those involved in heinous crimes to relocate from the state as there is no hiding place for them in Akwa Ibom.
“Therefore, on the marching order and close supervision of the CP, today April 28th, 2022 at about 0300hrs, in a painstaking operation, Operatives of Special Weapons And Tactics Squad (SWAT) of the Command led by CSP Julian Igbudu, traced the hoodlums to their hideouts at Ikang in Akpabuyo Local Government Area Of Cross River State.
“Uwem 24 years, his second in command, Wisdom Sunday Akpan (23) years, Ndifreke Sunday Ebong (20), and Annansia Umoh (33) resisted arrest and engaged the Operatives in a gun duel, and in the ensuing milieu, three of the gang members were fatally injured while attempting to escape.
“The CP Akwa Ibom State is thankful and congratulates the personnel of SWAT, other Tactical Teams, the Government, the Intelligence community, and the good people of Akwa Ibom State.
“He emphatically warned, that Akwa Ibom State can never be safe a haven for hoodlums as the command under his watch will continue to spare no resources in bringing perpetrators to book”.
Chronicling the deadly gang atrocities, Macedon said, “Malachi and (the) gang have killed over 15 persons and have left some of his victims permanently maimed.
“Some victims are still in the hospital, while others have shut down their businesses because of huge losses.
“The slain NYSC corps member died last week at a hospital in Enugu, Enugu State, after she was shot on February 20 and robbed of her iPhone, credit card, and N7,000 at Ikot Ambang.
“Only recently, on Monday, 25th April, he shot and killed two young men because the village couldn’t meet his demand of N20 million, but was only able to raise N5 million.
“On 21/2/22, Malachi robbed and killed a lady teacher returning from school in Okobo Ibiono who had stopped over at a POS shop to withdraw money.
“On5/3/22, Malachi shot and killed Mrs. Idongesit Damson in her house in Okobo Ibiono. He also shot one Wisdom, which also led to a protest and blockage of the Uyo/Ikot Ekpene Expressway.
“Several POS shops and filling stations have been robbed by the suspect and his gang in Okobo Ibiono, Itak axis, and Uyo”.
Macedon added, “police recovered one cut-to-size pump action gun, one locally-made pistol, many cartridges, one gas head with a resemblance to a gun, and assorted charms from the suspects”.
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