Akwa Ibom Police Nab Suspect in N2 Million Block Moulding Machine Theft

In a major breakthrough, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command has apprehended a 23-year-old suspect, Emmanuel Etim, in connection with the theft of an industrial block moulding machine vibrator worth over N2 million. According to DSP Timfon John, the command's Public Relations Officer, the suspect was caught while attempting to dispose of the stolen equipment, which was taken from the Ikot Ekpene International Market project site along the Calabar-Itu Road. The police had launched a coordinated investigation following a report of the theft, and their efforts led to the successful recovery of the stolen machine. The command is now working to apprehend other accomplices who are still at large. In a separate incident, the police also arrested a 46-year-old man, Nsidibe Benson, for allegedly vandalising property belonging to the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic. The suspect was apprehended on July 19, 2026, after a distress call from a member of the public. Preliminary investigations revealed that Benson specialises in vandalising and stealing louvres, aluminium window frames, electrical wires, and cables. The police recovered cut-to-size aluminium window frames and electrical cables from him, and he has confessed to the crime. The investigation is ongoing to track down other members of his gang.