Police Arrest Five Suspects, Recover Stolen Vehicles In Cross River

Police in Cross River State have arrested five suspected members of a motorcycle and tricycle theft network and recovered five vehicles in Calabar.

The command said the operation was carried out by the Violent Crime Response Unit at Satellite Town after intelligence on a suspected syndicate moving stolen motorcycles and tricycles from Akwa Ibom into Cross River for resale.

The first arrest was made on August 31, 2026, when police picked up a 28-year-old man and recovered one motorcycle suspected to have been stolen. Investigators said information from that arrest led officers to four more suspects during a follow-up operation around 3am on September 1.

Police identified the additional suspects as Archibong Archibong Nsa, 36; Okon Eyo Nsa, 75; Essien Ukpong, 60; and Nsa Essien Eyo, 24. The command said searches at locations linked to the suspects led to the recovery of three tricycles and another motorcycle.

Together with the motorcycle recovered from the first suspect, police said the operation had so far produced three tricycles and two motorcycles. The command said it was still verifying the ownership and status of the recovered vehicles.

The police also said the allegations against the suspects remain subject to further investigation and court processes.

Sources: Punch, Channels TV