A suspected armed robber who allegedly specialised in snatching cars at gun point in Akwa Ibom State, Ubong Edem Edet, has said he was forced into armed robbery in order to fend for himself.
Edet, a native of Afaha Ikot Obio Nkan in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of the state, said that he had no parents to take care him.
The suspect stated this while answering reporters’ questions after he was paraded along with four others for alleged car snatching and robbery.
“I have no mother and father and nobody to take care of me; that is why I went into robbery,” he said.
Four other members of the syndicate who were paraded along with him include one Nsikak Sunday, Richard Nse Uko, Itohowo Linus and Otobong Essien.
Parading the suspects at a media briefing at the Police headquarters, Ikot Akpanabia, the command Public Relations Officer, Odiko MacDon, said the suspects were ambushed and arrested on 18th July, 2021 after credible information.
He said all of them had confessed to being members of an armed robbery and car snatching syndicate responsible for criminal activities in Uyo metropolis and it environs.
“Based on available intelligence on 18/7/2021 at about 1:00pm, men of Anti-Robbery Squad ambushed and apprehended a five-man robbery gang.
“The suspects have confessed to be members of an armed robbery and car snatching syndicate terrorising Uyo metropolis and it environs,” MacDon said.
Items allegedly recovered from the suspects included four locally made pistols, four expended cartridges, one empty shell of AK-47 ammunition and a red Toyota Sienna car with registration number MUS 797 GS.
Others items included a white Toyota Camry car with registration number AKD 367 GV, black Mercedes Benz ML 350 with registration number WGD 74 AA, some items suspected to be charms and some household items.
The suspects, MacDon said, will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
