Police Nab Tricycle Robbery Suspects in Uyo, Recover Stolen Phones and Property

The infamous tricycle robbery syndicate that terrorized residents of Uyo city and the surrounding area has been busted, according to the Akwa Ibom State Police Command.

Additionally, the command has claimed that three (3) tricycles and seventy-two (72) various cell phones that were allegedly taken from unwitting victims were recovered as exhibits from syndicate members.

CP Baba Mohammed Azare, the Commissioner of Police, informed reporters on the state’s crime scenario during a press briefing in Uyo on Friday. He claimed that one of the victims of the tricycle robbery had called in distress, which led to the current arrests.

A 41-year-old individual named Mr. Aniekan Dan submitted a petition to the Command on July 7, 2025. He stated that on July 3, 2025, at approximately 7:00 p.m., he and his spouse boarded a tricycle from Ring Road 3 on their way to Nwaniba after returning from Ibesik­po. They were unaware that the two other men sitting in the tricycle were part of a gang involved in robberies.

“The two alleged passengers, working with the tricycle rider, abruptly produced a handgun upon arriving at UniUyo Permanent Site Roundabout and gave the order for the group to turn over their belongings. They lost a Sam­sung S22 worth ₦370,000, an iPhone 12 Pro Max worth ₦680,000, an iPhone 16 worth ₦1,400,000, ₦28,200 in cash, and a purse filled with personal belongings.

Following the victims’ robbery and assault, the suspects forced them from the moving tricycle. The victims were fortunate to be able to determine the escaping tricycle’s MOT number (MOT–0BMR), which was crucial in locating the criminals.

The 34-year-old trike rider, Editi, and the tricycle utilized in the operation were both taken into custody by police officers following an intelligence-led inquiry. Four further gang members were apprehended both inside and outside of Akwa Ibom State as a result of his voluntary confession. He stated

Musa Idris Sanni, age 31, Utibe Asuquo Nkop, age 34, Dadati John, age 46, and Abdulrashid Sanni, age 28, were among the other suspects apprehended, according to the CP, who also praised the promptness and professionalism of the command’s agents who carried out the arrests.