A 36-year-old man, Aniette Etim, is now cooling his heels in the custody of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command over the alleged theft of a blue Daihatsu Hijet minibus in Uyo.
DSP Timfon John, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), made this known in a press release made available to media houses, including Crystal Express, on July 8, 2026.
According to DSP John, operatives of the Command, on July 5, 2026, at about 1730 hrs, acting on credible and actionable intelligence, arrested the said Aniette Etim of Ifa Atai Village in Uyo Local Government Area and successfully recovered one blue Daihatsu Hijet mini bus with registration number KMK 625 ZT, suspected to have been unlawfully taken from its rightful owner.
She said from preliminary investigation, the suspect, a commercial driver based in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was entrusted with the vehicle under a hire-purchase arrangement.
However, in breach of the agreement, Aniette Etim allegedly absconded with the vehicle without the knowledge or consent of the owner and relocated it to Uyo with the intention of disposing of it.
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Unluckily for the suspect, operatives of the Command, acting swiftly on intelligence, intercepted him before he could execute his criminal plan, leading to his arrest and the successful recovery of the vehicle.
The PPRO disclosed that the owner of the vehicle, identified as one Mr Pele of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has been contacted, while the recovered vehicle has been secured as an exhibit.
She assured that the investigation is ongoing to conclude the case and facilitate the prompt return of the vehicle to its lawful owner in accordance with due process.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, has commended the operatives for their professionalism, vigilance, and commitment to duty.
CP Azare reiterated the Command’s unwavering resolve to sustain intelligence-driven policing and ensure that criminal elements find no refuge within Akwa Ibom State.
He further urges members of the public to remain vigilant and continue to support the Police with timely, credible, and actionable information.
The Commissioner also assures residents that all information received will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality and that the Command remains steadfast in its constitutional mandate to protect lives and property, prevent crime, and bring offenders to justice.
“The Akwa Ibom State Police Command wishes to reassure the good people of the state that it remains proactive, professional, and committed to ensuring a safe and secure environment for all,” the release added.
