The Cross River State Police Command has arrested six suspects in two separate operations in Calabar as the Command intensifies its crackdown on robbery, burglary and other criminal activities across the state.
The arrests were carried out by operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU), with the Police also recovering 20 litres of petrol and a blue tricycle in connection with an alleged robbery operation around the University of Calabar area.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, four of the suspects were arrested in connection with the alleged burglary of Royaline Technologies, located at 49 Ettagbor Road, Calabar, on June 3, 2026.
The suspects were identified as Hassan Ahmad, 38; Jabiru Ibrahim, 35; Usman Isa Garuba, 22; and Abdullalim Hassan, 23.
The Police said Jabiru Ibrahim was traced to Kano State, where he was arrested on September 2 before being brought to Calabar the following day.
Preliminary investigation, according to the Command, showed that 62 mobile phones of various models, accessories, speakers, earphones and cash amounting to ₦529,000 were allegedly stolen during the incident.
The total value of the stolen property was estimated at ₦49,150,715.
The Police said efforts were ongoing to arrest the remaining members of the alleged six-man gang and recover the stolen items.
In a separate incident on September 9, VCRU operatives responded to a distress call at a filling station around the University of Calabar area, where two other suspects had allegedly been apprehended by an angry mob.
The suspects, identified as Samuel Udo Udo, 29, and Ezekiel Dominic, 22, were reportedly at risk of being lynched before the Police arrived and rescued them.
The Command said preliminary investigation indicated that the suspects allegedly operated by posing as customers purchasing fuel before threatening attendants and fleeing with the fuel.
Police said 20 litres of petrol and a blue tricycle were recovered, while efforts were ongoing to identify and arrest other persons allegedly connected to the activities.
The Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, commended the VCRU operatives for their investigative work, intelligence gathering and interstate coordination, particularly in tracing and arresting the suspect in Kano State.
He directed that both cases be thoroughly investigated and that anyone found culpable be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The Command also warned residents against jungle justice, urging members of the public to hand over suspected offenders to the Police or other lawful authorities rather than resorting to violence.
The Police stressed that all the suspects remain presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The Command assured residents that intelligence-led operations against robbery, burglary and other criminal activities would continue across Cross River State, while urging members of the public to provide timely and credible information to security agencies.
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