Choose The Path Of Peace And Embrace Government Skill Acquisition Scheme - C'River Commissioner For Police Advises Criminal Gangs, Parades Suspected Criminals,

The Cross River State Commissioner of Police, CP Gyogon Augustine Grimah has paraded suspected criminals today in the Police Headquarters in Calabar. 

The Commissioner while parading the criminals warned criminal gangs against the dangers that lie ahead and admonished them to embrace Peace and the skill acquisition program of the state government so that they can contribute their quota to the betterment of the state. 

He said "The command has overhalled its prevention machinery with community policing as the pillars of this strategy. We have already set the ball rolling and took proactive measures to stamp out the rising crime in the state through round-the-clock patrols, constant raids on identified criminal hideouts and blackspots, surveillance foot and vehicular patrols, regular stop and search, intelligent gathering and above all stakeholders engagements to address crime in their localities." 

"This is a clarion call for all and sundry to brace up for the task ahead, my advice to criminal gangs across the state is to choose the path of peace and embrace the state government skill acquisition program and other profitable legal ventures so that they can be useful to the society and contribute their quota towards the development of the state." He added.

While recognising that 2023 was indeed a challenging year, Gyogon stated that there was a decrease in crime wave due to pragmatic law enforcement drift launched into constant rates of identified criminal hideouts, creeks, blackspots as well as flash points through visibility policing.

He said, "Firstly, I would like to emphatically state that the year 2023 was not without daunting challenges, though with a decrease in crime wave due to the pragmatic law enforcement drift launched into with constant rates of identified criminal hideouts, creeks, blackspots as well as flash points through visibility policing, intelligent led policing and coordinated operations by tactical commanders in synergy with other security agencies within the state to drastically reduce crime and criminality to the barest minimum"

"It is a well-established fact that the Cross River state juxtaposes with the league of other states Niger Delta and other geographical zones in Nigeria. It is distinct or characterised by humane hospitality, nature-driven and a window for transborder movement. These are the obvious reasons we all must play our role as a team with a mission geared towards the safety of the citizenry in line with the international best practices."

He further appreciated the Cross River state governor, His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Otu for his unrestrained support for the Police Force, adding that it has aided the smooth operation of the force in the state.

"I also want to acknowledge the immense support of the Cross River State government under the leadership of His Excellency the Executive Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Otu for his support for the Nigerian Police force in the State without which it would have been difficult for us to operate smoothly. 

"In keeping with the vision of the Inspector General of Police IGP Kayode Adeolu Ph.D/NPM to stem the tide of crime and make Nigeria safe and more secure for economic development and growth, the command under my watch is taking drastic measures in fighting crime and their perpetrators. therefore, all our effort and energies shall be geared towards the prevention of crime and the successful apprehension of offenders that will test our resolve."

As a means of reducing criminal activities and enhancing the good relationship between the police force and the public, the Gyogon revealed that the command has established a Compliant Response Unit, CRU as directed by the Inspector General of Police.

" In furtherance of our effort to cement our cordial relationship with members of the public, the command has established a Complaint Response Unit, CRU as directed by the Inspector General of Police. This unit is saddled with the responsibility of receiving and tackling complaints against personnel of the force from members of the public. The contact number to reach the unit is 07067977330." He said.

Also, criminal cases mentioned and suspects paraded include;

1. Arrest of four armed robbery suspects: On the 3rd of January 2024, at about 4:30 hours a distress call along Marian Road by Atekong Drive that armed rubbers were rubbing a shop where the owner sells the phone. based on this credible information a team of policemen mobilised to the scene engaged the hoodlums and arrested four (4) while two (2) are presently at large. Those arrested were; Kingsley Michael age 27 years, Promise Emmanuel 25 years, Praise Onyinyechi 26 years and Nsikank Johnson 25 years. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and further stated that they were members of the Vikings confraternity cult group. Items recovered from them include one locally made double barrel Dane gun cut to size, Ten (10) live cartridges and an assorted handset. An investigation is ongoing and we are making more arrests.
2. The arrest of six (6) armed robbery suspects: on the 24th of January at about 19:45 hours men of the anti-cultism and kidnapping squad on special duty at Ikom under the central senatorial zone acted on intelligence and raided a hoodlums hideout located at border road by Prince Niko junction Ikom where the following suspects where arrested; Amber Asan Achima 25 years from Etung LGA, Francis Ugbe Oga 29 years from Obudu, Gabriel Ebri Ojah from Ugep 23 years, Chukwuma Uche Joseph 29 years from Ishiala LGA in Imo State, Oluchukwu Okoro 30 years from Ebonyi state, Uwamchi Michael 29years from Ebonyi State. Items recovered after the search conductor where they were arrested include; one locally made Pistle, 5 big generators, 1 LG flat screen, one small battle axe, 20 cartons of tiles, a wheelbarrow without tires, 18 sheets of both old and new zink among others. 
3. The arrest of two (2) suspects for murder: On the 19th of December 2023 at about 04:30 hours one Idara Aniefiok Moses age 29 years in Calabar South set the family house ablaze. the sister Ekaette Aniefiok Amos, escaped from the room unhurt but the suspect used an iron hoe to hit the victim's head and she died on her way to the hospital. the suspect claimed that the victim had been responsible for his mental illness. The investigation is ongoing, at the appropriate time he will be charged in court.
4. In another development on the 10th of February at about 19:50 hours, there was information from concerned citizens of Kanyang one community in Boki LGA that one Njama Meshiach age 26 years attacked and murdered two residents of the community with the matchette. he was arrested.
5. The case of attempted murder in Okuni in Ikom LGA: Issue of Valentine, on the 17th of February at about 10:00 hours, information from community leaders of Okuni in Ikom LGA has it that one Amber Ugbong age 30 years of the same community gave his girlfriend Blessing Onawu age 25 years the sum of seven thousand Naira before valentine to put herself well and thereafter visit him during the set day after the said Amber waited and Blessing did not show up, the suspect armed himself on the 17th and went to the Victims house and butchered her she is receiving treatment, he also descended on the mother of the victim when she tried to rescue her daughter. 
6. The arrest of rubbery suspects: on the 18th of February a report that a truck was being robbed along Calabar Biase Highway axis. A truck driver loaded his truck with about 900 bags of cement headed for Ebonyi state. Some Hoodlums hijacked the truck and tried to change the plate number before they were accosted and one person arrested. 

Achievements of the Police force in Cross River State include; Cases recorded and successes made so far in connection with them;

1. 6 properly reported cases of kidnapping 
2. 49 Cases of Abduction
3. 52 cases of Armed rubbery
4. 35 Cult activities
5. 12 Communal clashes
6. 2 cases of car snatching
7. 1 car theft
8. 2 records of child abuse
9. 1 record of child trafficking
10. 83 cases of murder
11. 6 cases of suicide
12. 6 cases of Arson 
13. 7 cases of defilement
14. 10 cases of rape among others.

Finally, Gyogon Reiterated that security is a collective responsibility and encouraged the public to report all suspicious movements to the police and other security agencies.

"I want to encourage you and well-meaning citizens of this state, everyone, to view security as a collective responsibility by reporting all suspicious movement to the police and other security agencies"