The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has reported a major advancement in the investigation of a serious case involving armed robbery, criminal conspiracy, and the alleged use of juju in the Uyo area.
DSP Timfon John, the State Police Public Relations Officer, issued a press release to journalists on Friday, stating that the Command received a petition on November 20, 2025, from a victim who had been robbed by unknown criminals.
The petition detailed that on November 19, 2025, while waiting on Uruan Street, Uyo, to catch a commercial vehicle, a saloon car approached and invited her to get in. Unbeknownst to her, the car's occupants were part of a criminal group.
"After traveling a short distance, the suspects took a different route, brandished a firearm, and forcibly took her ATM card.
The statement noted that she was then coerced at gunpoint to reveal her ATM Personal Identification Number (PIN).
It continued, "The suspects reportedly used juju to hypnotize the victim and forcibly took her to her home, where they searched her residence and stole ₦900,000 in cash.
"Further investigation showed that the syndicate also withdrew an additional ₦3,300,000 from the victim’s bank account using her ATM card, transferring the money to various bank accounts, totaling a loss of ₦4.2 million.
"Upon receiving the report, the Command's operatives acted swiftly. After thorough intelligence gathering, on February 3, 2026, they arrested Benjamin Patrick, a male resident of No. 29 Ebong Isong Street, Uyo, whose bank account and Point of Sale (POS) terminals were used to withdraw the stolen money within five minutes.
"The victim identified the suspect as one of the individuals who transported her in the vehicle where her ATM card was taken. The suspect is currently in custody.
"During the investigation, three POS machines used for the illegal withdrawals were recovered. The investigation is ongoing to uncover the entire network, recover the stolen money, and apprehend other members of the syndicate.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command assures the public that it will thoroughly pursue justice for all those involved in this serious crime.
"The Command also takes this opportunity to warn criminals that Akwa Ibom State is not a safe place for illegal activities and encourages the public to stay alert, avoid getting into suspicious vehicles, and report any suspicious behavior to the Police."
(Source: New Telegraph)
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