Operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU) of the Cross River State Police Command have arrested six suspects in connection with alleged robbery, burglary and stealing incidents in Calabar, recovering some of the items linked to the crimes.

Four of the suspects were arrested over the alleged burglary of Royaline Technologies at 49 Ettagbor Road, Calabar, on June 3, 2026, in which property valued at about N49.15 million was reportedly stolen.

The suspects were identified as Hassan Ahmad, 38; Jabiru Ibrahim, 35; Usman Isa Garuba, 22; and Abdullalim Hassan, 23.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, said preliminary investigation showed that the suspects allegedly operated as a six-man gang and made away with 62 mobile phones of various models, accessories, speakers, earphones and N529,000 cash.

He said one of the suspects, Ibrahim, was traced to Kano State, where he was arrested on September 2 and brought to Calabar the following day.

According to him, the total value of the stolen property was estimated at N49,150,715, while efforts were ongoing to arrest the remaining members of the alleged gang and recover the stolen items.

In a separate case, VCRU operatives also arrested two suspects over alleged robbery incidents at filling stations in Calabar.

The suspects, Samuel Udo Udo, 29, and Ezekiel Dominic, 22, were arrested on September 9 after they were apprehended by a mob following a distress call from a filling station around the University of Calabar area.

Eitokpah said the operatives intervened and rescued the suspects from being lynched before taking them into custody for investigation.

He said preliminary investigation indicated that the suspects allegedly posed as customers seeking to buy fuel before threatening attendants and fleeing with the product.

Police recovered 20 litres of petrol and a blue tricycle from the suspects, while efforts were ongoing to identify and arrest other persons allegedly linked to the activities.

The Commissioner of Police, Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, commended the VCRU operatives for their intelligence gathering, investigation and interstate coordination which led to the arrest of one of the suspects in Kano.

Ordue directed that both cases be thoroughly investigated and that anyone found culpable should be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The Police Command also warned residents against jungle justice, urging them to hand over suspected offenders to the Police or other lawful authorities.

The Command said the suspects remained innocent until proven guilty by a court, adding that intelligence-led operations against robbery, burglary and other crimes would be sustained across the state.