Police Recover Stolen Telecom Mast, Arrest 1 Suspect In Akwa Ibom

Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have smashed a criminal syndicate specialising in vandalising government assets and other public utilities with the arrest of one suspect and recovery of vandalised telecommunications infrastructure.

Disclosing this to journalists on Friday at the State Police Command’s headquarters, Ikot Akpanabia, near Uyo, the State capital, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Timfon John, explained that the busting of the crime followed responsive action based on credible intelligence.

She said: “On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at approximately 10:40 AM, a patrol team successfully apprehended a suspect and recovered a stolen vandalised telecommunications mast.

“Based on actionable intelligence, operatives were dispatched to Obong Sampson Idiong Drive in Uyo, where a group of individuals were reportedly loading a recently vandalised telecom mast into a truck.

“Upon the arrival of the patrol team, the suspects fled the scene, abandoning a green Isuzu truck with registration number AFG 517 XA.

“Operatives pursued the fleeing individuals, leading to the arrest of one suspect, Amisu Bala, a 30-year-old male. He is currently in custody and is cooperating with the interrogators in the ongoing investigation.”

The recovered truck and the stolen telecom mast, according to her “are now in Police custody,” assuring that “investigations are underway to uncover all the facts surrounding the crime, and efforts are being made to arrest the remaining members of the syndicate.”