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

Police in Akwa Ibom say they foiled an alleged kidnapping operation in Oron after raiding a suspected criminal camp along the Calabar-Oron Channel.

Marine Police officers from Oron carried out the operation with Marine Hunters at about 6:05 a.m. on Tuesday. The raid followed intelligence about a syndicate allegedly preparing to abduct victims in the riverine area.

According to police, officers recovered one Jojeef English pump-action gun, two cartridges, a white rope suspected to be intended for criminal use, two speedboats, three 200-horsepower outboard engines and one 15-horsepower engine. The items were secured for documentation and further investigation.

The command said the operation formed part of an intelligence-led effort to dismantle criminal networks before they could use the state’s waterways as corridors, hideouts or escape routes. It said the area remained calm and peaceful after the raid and assured residents, boat operators, fishermen and other waterway users of their safety.

Commissioner of Police Baba Mohammed Azare praised the officers and Marine Hunters for their work. He warned criminal groups operating across state boundaries that Akwa Ibom would not serve as a safe haven, staging ground or escape route.

“

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.