From Judex Okoro, Calabar
The Cross River Police Command has paraded about 21 suspects for various offences including murder, kidnapping, gun running and illegal possession of arms.
Those paraded include 4 suspects for attempting to kidnap a Commissioner for Industry and Commerce, Mr Peter Egba, one Eyo Etim Bassey, who killed and dumped a lady inside the toilet, and 2 for gun running.
A gun manufacturing syndicate based in Obanliku LGA of the state was also paraded while a cache of arms was recovered from him.
Briefing newsmen shortly after the parade at the Command Headquarters Diamond Hills Calabar, the Commissioner for Police, CP Sule Balarabe, said: “The outgoing year presented sets of security challenges which at some point evolved to threaten the security order and national cohesion of the state.
“However, the Command’s move against criminals and criminality has remained unhindered, resolute and focused with the arrest of kidnapping syndicates, recovery of arms and ammunition through actionable intelligence strategic raids and effective deployment around critical infrastructures mostly INEC facilities amongst others.”
He called on the political class in the state to respect the rule of law, shun politics of bitterness and embrace the spirit of sportsmanship.
Breaking down the number of those arrested, he said 21 suspects were arrested for various offences and exhibits recovered include G3 automatic rifles, AK47s, 7 locally-made single barrel guns, 3 locally-made pistols, and police walkie-talkies, among others.
Speaking with one of the suspects, who allegedly kidnapped, killed and dumped a staff of Larfage inside a toilet, Eyo Etim Bassey, said it was not his intention to kill his victim, adding: “I only sent people to pick her up and threatened her so that I can get my money, but she died in the process.”