Cross River Police Arrest Five Robbers, Recover Stolen Vehicles

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 of Satellite Town, Calabar, smashed the suspected network following credible intelligence.
According to the command, the operation began with the arrest of Effiong Archibong Sunday, 28, on August 31, 2026, at about 2pm, with one motorcycle suspected to have been stolen recovered from him.
The statement 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 (VCRU), Satellite Town, Calabar, which led to the arrest of five suspects and the recovery of five vehicles suspected to be stolen.
“The operation reflects the sustained efforts of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, to disrupt suspected criminal networks across the State.”
According to the statement, during preliminary investigation, the suspect allegedly implicated himself and mentioned one “Elewe” as being connected to the network.
The suspect further alleged that Elewe steals motorcycles and tricycles from Akwa Ibom State and transfers them to one “Efefiong” in Cross River for onward sale.
The police said the allegations remained subject to further investigation and judicial determination.
“Acting on the information obtained during the investigation, VCRU operatives conducted a follow-up operation at about 0300hrs on 1 September 2026, leading to the arrest of four additional suspects allegedly connected with the suspected receiving and distribution network. They are: Archibong Archibong Nsa, 36; Okon Eyo Nsa, 75; Essien Ukpong, 60; and Nsa Essien Eyo, 24,” ASP Sunday Eitokpah said.
The statement further added that a thorough 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 earlier, the command said the operation had so far recovered five vehicles: three tricycles and two motorcycles, adding that the ownership and status of the recovered vehicles were being verified.
The Commissioner of Police, CP 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.
“I want to warn anybody or 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 persons found culpable. Members of the public, particularly motorcycle and tricycle owners and operators, are advised to promptly report thefts and provide credible information to assist the police in recovering stolen property and dismantling criminal networks.
“Members of the public are also advised not to engage in self-help, unlawful searches or harassment of persons suspected of involvement in criminal activity,” he added.
He added that 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.