UYO – The newly established Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command has recorded a major operational breakthrough with the recovery of a firearm, hard drugs, and other incriminating exhibits during a tactical raid on a suspected criminal hideout in Abak.
The operation, carried out yesterday (May 7, 2026), followed intelligence reports on activities of hoodlums operating from a suburb within Abak, where criminal elements allegedly gathered to abuse illicit substances and plan attacks against residents and unsuspecting members of the public.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, the raid was executed in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Rilwan Disu, and the operational strategies of the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State, Baba Mohammed Azare.
The statement disclosed that, the suspected criminals fled into the bush on Abak – Ikot Abasi Road and on sighting the advancing operatives of the VCRU, they scampered abandoning several exhibits at the scene.
Items recovered during the operation included; one locally made gun, one live cartridge, two mobile phones, quantities of substances suspected to be hard drugs, sachets of alcoholic beverages, and one unregistered Q-LINK motorcycle.
Police said all recovered exhibits have been taken into custody at the VCRU office, while investigations have commenced to track down the fleeing suspects using intelligence generated from the recovered phones and other operational leads.
Commending the operatives for their professionalism and swift response, CP Baba Mohammed Azare described the operation as a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of the newly created VCRU in combating violent crimes, drug-related activities, and organised criminal networks across the state.
The CP, reiterated the Command’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven raids, visibility policing, and proactive operations aimed at protecting lives and property and warned criminal elements to desist from unlawful activities or face decisive police action.
The Command further appealed to residents of the state to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information capable of aiding efforts to maintain peace and security in the state.
