The men of the Nigeria Police Force, Cross River state command has confirmed the arrest of 80 people allegedly involved in the looting of some government and private property in the state.
Mr. Abdulkadir Jimoh, the state commissioner of police, who confirmed the arrest said some of the looted items have also been recovered. The police boss who confirmed that a house-to-house search is ongoing, warned parents and landlords against covering up looted items.
Jimoh said;
“I want to urge community leaders, youth groups and religious leaders to expose the looters and shame them.
“We have arrested more than 80 suspects and they are undergoing interrogations in our various security facilities. Looters have 24 hours to return all the looted items before the house-to-house search gets to them, as recovery of looted items is ongoing.
“No criminal element will be spared; no one who vandalised government property or looted personal effects and invaded people’s private offices will go unpunished; they will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
“We are already working in synergy with other sister agencies in a bid to fish out the bad eggs as well as recover the looted items.
“I will advise all those who are in possession of such items to, in their own interest, bring them or face justice.”
Jimoh added that some of the recovered items include four new tricycles, water heaters, bath tubs, air conditioners, speakers, executive chairs, stage equipment at the CICC, sewing machines looted from a garment factory, fumigation equipment and cartons of pesticides.
He stated that the police would not rest until all the perpetrators of arson and vandalism in Calabar were apprehended.