The Police in Akwa Ibom State have killed a dreaded serial killer and armed robber identified as 24-year-old Malachi Friday Uwem, the leader of the gang allegedly responsible for the death of over 15 persons in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, Itu and Ikot Ekpene Local Government Areas and some parts of Uyo.
Victims of this gang have been permanently maimed, some are in hospitals, while others are counting their losses from his barbaric robbery acts, which have led to the closing of many businesses, especially POS.
According to the Police, in the last six months, residents of these areas have lived in palpable fear of the dreaded serial killer and his gang.
“It would be recalled that on February 20, 2022, the notorious armed robber and serial killer robbed and shot one Miss Lovina Eze Chiwendu, a Youth Corps member at Ikot Ambang, and made away with her iPhone, ATM card, and the sum of N7,000. She died last week at Enugu Teaching Hospital.
“Also, on February 21, 2022, the suspect robbed and killed a female teacher returning from school at Okobo Ibiono who had stopped over at a POS shop. This resulted in a protest by Youths of the area who blocked Uyo/Ikot Ekpene Expressway.
“Several POS shops and filling stations have been robbed by the suspect and his gang at Okobo Ibiono, Itak axis, and Uyo. Furthermore, on March 5, 2022, one Mrs. Idongesit Damson was shot and killed in her house at Okobo Ibiono by Malachi. He also shot one Wisdom, which led to a protest and blockage of the Uyo/Ikot Ekpene Expressway.
“Only recently, on Monday, he shot and killed two young men because the village could not meet his demand of twenty million naira (N20m) and only raised the sum of five million naira,” the Police say.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko MacDon, noted that on Thursday, Operatives of the Special Weapons And Tactics Squad (SWAT), led by CSP Julian Igbudu, traced the hoodlums to their hideouts at Ikang in Akpabuyo Local Government Area.
Malachi Friday Uwem, his second in Command, 31-year-old Wisdom Sunday Akpan, 20-year-old Ndifreke Sunday Ebong, and 33-year-old Annansia Umoh resisted arrest and engaged the Operatives in a gun duel, where three of the gang members were fatally injured while attempting to escape.
Exhibits recovered at the crime scene include one cut to size pump action gun, one locally-made pistol, a large number of cartridges, one gas head with a resemblance to a Gun, and assorted charms.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Andrew Amiengheme, congratulated the personnel of SWAT, other Tactical Teams, the Government, the Intelligence Community, and the good people of Akwa Ibom State.
He has also warned that the State would never be a haven for hoodlums as the Command would continue to spare no resources in bringing perpetrators to justice.
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