Police foil planned kidnapping operation, recover guns and speedboats in Akwa Ibom

Akwa Ibom police said they disrupted a planned kidnapping operation in Oron Local Government Area and recovered weapons, ammunition and speedboats allegedly used by a suspected criminal syndicate.

Marine Police officers from Oron, working with Marine Hunters, carried out the operation at a suspected criminal camp along the Calabar, Oron Channel. Police said the team acted on intelligence about a kidnapping being planned in the Oron area.

The items recovered included a Jojeef English pump-action gun, two cartridges, a white rope suspected to have been intended for criminal use, two speedboats, three 200-horsepower outboard engines and one 15-horsepower engine. Police said the items had been secured for documentation and further investigation.

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The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has recorded a significant operational breakthrough in its sustained efforts to prevent criminal activities and protect lives and property, particularly within the state’s riverine and coastal communities.

The command described the raid as part of an intelligence-led strategy to identify and dismantle criminal networks before they carry out attacks. It said it remained focused on stopping criminal groups from using Akwa Ibom’s waterways as operational routes, hideouts or escape paths.

Police Commissioner Baba Mohammed Azare praised the officers for their professionalism, courage and use of intelligence. He also thanked the Marine Hunters and urged them to maintain cooperation with security agencies. The command said the area remained calm after the operation, with no incident reported.

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The Command remains particularly focused on denying criminal elements the opportunity to exploit the state’s waterways as operational corridors, hideouts or escape routes.