Thursday, September 3, 2026 - The Cross River State Police Command has arrested five suspected members of a motorcycle and tricycle theft syndicate and recovered five vehicles in an intelligence-led operation in Calabar, the state capital.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah,
disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying operatives of the Violent
Crime Response Unit, Satellite Town, Calabar, smashed the suspected network
following credible intelligence.
According to the statement, the operation began with the
arrest of Effiong Archibong Sunday, 28, on August 31, 2026, at about 2pm,
during which a motorcycle suspected to have been stolen was recovered from him.
The statement partly read, “The Cross River State Police
Command has recorded another breakthrough in its ongoing efforts against
criminal syndicates, following an intelligence-led operation by the Violent
Crime Response Unit, Satellite Town, Calabar, which led to the arrest of five
suspects and the recovery of five vehicles suspected to be stolen.”
The police said preliminary investigation allegedly led
Sunday to mention one “Elewe” as being connected to the network.
According to the command, the suspect alleged that Elewe
stole motorcycles and tricycles from Akwa Ibom State and transferred them to
one “Efefiong” in Cross River State for onward sale.
The police noted that the allegations were subject to
further investigation and judicial determination.
Acting on the information, VCRU operatives conducted a
follow-up operation at about 3am on September 1, 2026, leading to the arrest of
four other suspects allegedly linked to the suspected receiving and
distribution network.
The suspects were identified as Archibong Archibong Nsa, 36;
Okon Eyo Nsa, 75; Essien Ukpong, 60; and Nsa Essien Eyo, 24.
The command said a search of locations linked to the
suspects led to the recovery of three tricycles and one motorcycle suspected to
have been stolen.
With the motorcycle recovered during the initial arrest, the
police said a total of five vehicles—three tricycles and two motorcycles—had so
far been recovered.
The command added that the ownership and status of the
recovered vehicles were being verified.
The state Commissioner of Police, Ajo Geoffrey Ordue,
commended the VCRU operatives for their prompt and professional response and
reaffirmed his commitment to lawful, intelligence-led operations against
criminal syndicates across the state.
He warned persons involved in the theft, receiving,
concealment or sale of stolen vehicles that the command would pursue all
credible leads and take appropriate legal action against anyone found culpable.
Ordue urged motorcycle and tricycle owners and operators to
promptly report thefts and provide credible information to assist the police in
recovering stolen property and dismantling criminal networks.
He also cautioned members of the public against resorting to
self-help, conducting unlawful searches or harassing persons suspected of
criminal activity.
The commissioner said further investigation was ongoing to
establish the ownership and provenance of the recovered vehicles, identify
other persons connected with the alleged offences and determine the full extent
of the suspected network.
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