By: Princess Don, Uyo.
In a sweeping offensive against crime, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested 54 suspects in connection with a series of violent crimes including armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, pipeline vandalism, and burglary.
The arrests and recoveries were announced on Thursday by the State Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, during a press briefing held at the Command Headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia.
According to the Commissioner, the security operations, which ran from May 1 to June 18, 2025, were guided by credible intelligence, strategic patrols, and community collaboration.
Multiple robbery syndicates were dismantled across Uyo, Oruk Anam, and Etinan LGAs. Several locally made pistols, live cartridges, and stolen motorcycles were recovered. One operation at Atan Offot saw the police repel an armed robbery, neutralize a suspect, and rescue three victims.
Also, a six-member kidnapping syndicate operating from Oron to Nsit Eket was apprehended. A Lexus RX 300 SUV and five phones were recovered during the arrest.
At least 30 suspected cultists linked to groups like the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, Mafia, Black Axe, and Debam confraternity were arrested across multiple LGAs, and items including firearms, machetes, charms, and battle axes were recovered.
The CP also disclosed that Police foiled an attempt to vandalize oil pipelines in Ikot Oboron and arrested several others for vandalizing school and power infrastructure. A suspect was caught with four heavy transformer coils in a minibus.
Marine Police thwarted a sea piracy attack along the Oron-Calabar waterway, recovering a speedboat, weapons, and various stolen items from a pirate camp.
One suspect was arrested for the brutal murder of his mother, while another cultist confessed to the beheading of three Marine Hunters in a 2024 attack.
The CP revealed that in total, police recovered: 50 firearms and ammunition, including 18 locally made pistols and 3 cut-to-size single-barrel guns, 2 vehicles, several motorcycles, and stolen household items, 3 kidnapped victims were rescued and Various tools used in vandalism, charms, and cult paraphernalia.
According to CP Azare, “Akwa Ibom is not a safe haven for criminals, We have dismantled cult cells, crushed burglary syndicates, thwarted kidnappers, repelled pirates, and intercepted vandals and robbers.
Anyone intending to threaten the peace of this State should know, we are watching, and we will strike decisively.”
The Commissioner urged citizens to continue supporting the police with timely and actionable intelligence to sustain the gains achieved.
Residents across the state have expressed relief and lauded the Police Command’s swift and decisive operations.
