The Cross River State Police Command has arrested five suspects and recovered five vehicles in an intelligence-led operation targeting an alleged motorcycle and tricycle theft network in Calabar.
The suspects were arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Satellite Town, Calabar, following intelligence about a suspected syndicate allegedly involved in stealing motorcycles and tricycles from Akwa Ibom State and transferring them to Cross River for onward sale.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.
According to the command, the operation began on August 31, 2026, with the arrest of 28-year-old Effiong Archibong Sunday at about 2pm. One motorcycle suspected to have been stolen was recovered from him.
The police said preliminary investigation led to information about other alleged members of the network, including a man identified as “Elewe”, whose full identity was not immediately established.
Elewe was allegedly linked to the theft of motorcycles and tricycles in Akwa Ibom and their transfer to a suspected receiver identified as “Efefiong” in Cross River for onward sale.
Acting on the information, VCRU operatives carried out a follow-up operation at about 3am on September 1, leading to the arrest of four additional suspects.
They were identified as Archibong Archibong Nsa, 36; Okon Eyo Nsa, 75; Essien Ukpong, 60; and Nsa Essien Eyo, 24.
Police said searches conducted at locations linked to the suspects led to the recovery of three tricycles and another motorcycle suspected to have been stolen.
This brought the total number of recovered vehicles to five, comprising three tricycles and two motorcycles.
The command said investigations are ongoing to establish the ownership and origin of the recovered vehicles, identify other persons who may be connected to the alleged offences and determine the full extent of the suspected network.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, commended the VCRU operatives for their prompt response and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-led operations against criminal networks in the state.
He warned individuals involved in the theft, receiving, concealment or sale of stolen vehicles that the police would pursue credible leads and take legal action against anyone found culpable.
The commissioner also urged motorcycle and tricycle owners to promptly report cases of theft and provide useful information to assist the police in recovering stolen property.
He cautioned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands or harassing persons merely suspected of criminal activity.
The police stressed that the suspects remain innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
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