By: Abdullahi Inuwa
What began as a routine stop-and-search patrol turned into a high-tension pursuit on Monday, June 30, when operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command uncovered a stolen vehicle along the busy Ikot Ekpene–Umuahia Road.
At exactly 4:00 p.m., a Joint Task Force patrol team flagged down an ash-coloured Toyota Matrix, registration number KRJ 944, for routine checks. But what they uncovered was anything but routine.
The driver, whose identity remains unknown, boldly claimed to be a Naval officer, perhaps hoping the uniformed lie would earn him safe passage. But the officers weren’t buying it.
The supposed “officer” failed to produce a single valid form of identification. As questioning intensified, he suddenly ditched the vehicle and made a mad dash into the nearby forest, leaving both the car and his story behind.
Efforts to capture the fleeing suspect were unsuccessful at the time, but what followed was a swift investigation that connected the dots: the vehicle had been reported stolen in Rivers State.
Upon contact with the Rivers State Police Command, the car’s rightful owner (name withheld for security reasons) came forward with documents confirming his ownership. The car has since been handed over as investigations continue into the suspect’s identity and possible criminal network.
Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, praised the vigilance and professionalism of the patrol officers. He reaffirmed the Command’s unwavering commitment to inter-state collaboration in tracking down stolen property and ensuring justice is served.
“This recovery is a testament to our resolve to make Akwa Ibom a difficult terrain for criminals,” the CP said.
Police spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, in a statement on behalf of the Command, assured the public that manhunts for suspects like the runaway impersonator remain active and that no criminal will evade the long arm of the law.
As investigations continue, residents are urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
One thing is clear—Akwa Ibom’s highways are no longer safe havens for car thieves and impostors.
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