The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a suspected serial burglar, Nicholas Olamide, and recovered photographic equipment and other valuables worth more than N21 million in connection with multiple burglary incidents across the state.
Olamide’s arrest followed a petition received by the command on September 3, 2026, from a photographer identified as Aniekan, who reported that his photo studio had been burgled by unknown persons.
Items stolen during the burglary included a Canon 6D Mark II camera, Nikon D850 camera, Sony A7 Mark II camera, AD200 studio light, AD600 studio light, Shaker studio light and a box of memory cards. The items were valued at N13.14 million.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Timfon John, on Thursday, a discreet investigation into the complaint led to Olamide’s arrest on September 7, 2026.
Olamide, a native of Ibogi, Ile-Ife, Osun State, who resides in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, allegedly confessed during interrogation to his involvement in the burglary, according to the police.
The police said Olamide subsequently disclosed the identities and locations of other suspects, as well as the whereabouts of some of the stolen property.
His disclosures led operatives to Abasiakan Ikpembe of Abak Local Government Area and Edward Francis of Afaha Ube Street, Uyo, where several of the stolen items, alongside other articles reasonably suspected to have been stolen, were recovered.
According to the spokesperson, further interrogation of Olamide, according to the police, led to information about other burglary and stealing incidents in Uyo and other parts of Akwa Ibom State.
The police said Olamide allegedly disclosed that between July 28 and August 5, he burgled another photo studio located at No. 135 Aka Road, Uyo, and stole various photographic equipment and accessories.
The items allegedly stolen included an Itel A80 mobile phone, tripods, LED light tripod, bracket, Godox AD200 and AD600 studio lights, Godox speedlight, Godox triggers, Sony A7 camera, Sony 50mm lens, Gimbal R3 Mini, photo lights, a make-up bag, AD600 bag, speedlight bag, 700GB drive and AD600 chargers.
The value of the items stolen from the studio was estimated at approximately N8 million.
The police further said Olamide allegedly confessed to entering a photo studio at Aka Estate, Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, on August 25, where he stole a Canon camera and lens belonging to a man identified as Richard.
Following information allegedly provided by Olamide, police operatives traced and arrested Sunday. Some of the stolen items, as well as other property reasonably suspected to have been stolen, were recovered from his location, according to the command.
The police said preliminary investigation indicated that Olamide was a repeat offender who was released from a correctional facility in June 2026.
The command said investigators were working to establish his possible involvement in other cases of burglary and stealing within and outside Akwa Ibom State.
The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, Baba Azare, commended the operatives for their swift response, intelligence gathering and handling of the investigation.
Azare reaffirmed the command’s commitment to recovering stolen property, dismantling criminal networks and ensuring that persons found culpable are brought to justice.
He urged members of the public, particularly business owners and people in possession of valuable property, to strengthen security around their premises and promptly report suspicious movements and criminal activities to the police.
The command also appealed to victims of similar burglary and theft incidents to come forward with relevant information or documentation that could assist investigators in identifying and recovering their property.