THE Akwa Ibom State Police Command has announced a sweeping crackdown on criminal activity across the state, resulting in 63 arrests, the recovery of 19 firearms, over 100 rounds of ammunition, and the rescue of 22 human trafficking victims, according to Commissioner of Police Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi.
News Point Nigeria reports that speaking during a press briefing at the State Police Headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia on Wednesday, CP Azare outlined the command’s achievements between August 1 and September 2, 2025, stressing that the successes were made possible by “the commitment, diligence, and professionalism of officers, as well as the collaboration of the good people of Akwa Ibom State.”
Two suspected cultists, Uwemedimo Michael Udah and Prince Emmanuel Amasi-Tito, were arrested in Eket with a pistol, ammunition, drugs, and suspected stolen documents. Further raids across Obot Akara, Ikono, and Mkpat Enin led to the arrest of more cultists and the recovery of pistols, charms, masks, and in one case, a human skull.
A notorious kidnapper, John Ubong Akpan, was neutralized in Mkpat Enin during a gun battle, while in Eket, police foiled a kidnap attempt, rescuing a victim and recovering a cache of weapons, including an AK-47 rifle, an assault rifle, and a pump-action shotgun.
Police rescued 20 Ghanaians trafficked to Uyo in collaboration with INTERPOL and Ghana Police, while a separate operation led to the arrest of Alex Omosivie, a notorious trafficker from Edo State, who confessed to selling victims to foreign prostitution rings for ₦50,000 each.
Multiple raids dismantled robbery gangs operating in Uyo, Abak, and Ikot Ekpene. One gang was linked to fetish shrines containing coffins filled with sanitary pads and photographs of victims.
A car theft syndicate was also exposed, with suspects including a fabricator, mechanic, electrician, and buyer of stolen vehicles. Police recovered nine stolen cars, license plates, camouflage uniforms, and fake documents.
One Gabriel Gideon was arrested for parading himself as an ophthalmologist. He allegedly administered a concoction of olive oil, juice, and water to hundreds of unsuspecting villagers, charging ₦500 per person.
Other operations led to the recovery of stolen vehicles, the arrest of armed robbers in possession of pistols and motorcycles, and the rescue of two kidnap victims.
In total, 75 major cases were cracked, with 63 suspects arrested, including 12 armed robbers, six kidnappers, 18 cultists, and five vandals.
CP Azare reassured residents of Akwa Ibom that the police remain committed to dismantling criminal networks across the state. He called on citizens to remain vigilant and continue supporting security agencies by reporting suspicious movements.
He provided emergency hotlines for the public: 08028916010, 08020913810, 09169839215, 08039213071.
“Our achievements show that crime has no hiding place in Akwa Ibom when security agencies and citizens work together. We will not relent until the state is safe for everyone,” he declared.