The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property, the combating of criminal activities and the maintenance of peace and order across all parts of the state through proactive, intelligence-driven and professionally coordinated policing strategies.
The assurance was given by the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, during a press briefing held at the Command Headquarters in Uyo, where he briefed journalists on recent operational successes recorded by the command in its ongoing fight against crime and criminality.
CP Azare, who has been spearheading a renewed drive to make Akwa Ibom one of the safest states in the country, said the command under his watch will not relent in its efforts to ensure that criminal elements have no hiding place and that residents can go about their lawful businesses without fear of molestation or harassment.
During the briefing, the Police Commissioner disclosed that operatives of the command have arrested some suspected hoodlums who were allegedly involved in the vandalization of public infrastructure in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of the state, a development that has been a source of concern to both government and host communities.
According to him, the suspects were apprehended following credible intelligence received by the command about the activities of a group of persons who specialise in vandalising transformers and other electrical installations, thereby throwing communities into darkness and causing huge financial losses to government and private individuals.
He said upon receiving the information, operatives of the command swung into action and carried out a well-coordinated operation that led to the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of vandalised transformer components which they had already removed and were planning to sell to scrap dealers and other buyers.
CP Azare noted that the recovered items include transformer oil, copper wires, armoured cables and other vital components that are critical to power distribution, adding that the suspects have confessed to the crime and are helping the police with further investigation to apprehend other members of their gang who are currently at large.
The Commissioner described the vandalization of transformers and other critical infrastructure as economic sabotage that should not be treated with levity, stressing that such acts not only disrupt power supply but also affect economic activities, healthcare delivery and the overall well-being of the people in affected communities.
He assured that the command will continue to pursue individuals and criminal networks involved in the vandalization, theft and disruption of critical infrastructure across the state, and will ensure that those found culpable are diligently prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the land to serve as deterrent to others.
In another major breakthrough, CP Azare also highlighted the successful rescue of fishermen who were attacked and abducted by armed men suspected to be sea pirates while they were travelling through the waterways in Ibeno Local Government Area towards the Atlantic Ocean to carry out their fishing activities.
He explained that the fishermen, who were on their routine expedition in the high sea, were ambushed by the pirates who reportedly attacked them with dangerous weapons, dispossessed them of their fishing equipment and other personal belongings and then whisked them away to an unknown destination in the creeks.
According to the Commissioner, the incident was reported to the police by community members and relatives of the victims, prompting the command to immediately mobilise its marine and tactical units to begin a search and rescue operation in collaboration with other sister security agencies and local volunteers.
The operation, he said, lasted for several hours as the security team combed the waterways, creeks and adjoining communities, using both intelligence gathering and physical patrols to track down the abductors and their hideout, despite the difficult terrain and the vastness of the riverine area.
Through professionalism, resilience and effective coordination, the police team was able to locate where the fishermen were being held captive and successfully rescued them unhurt, while the suspected sea pirates fled the scene on sighting the advancing security operatives, abandoning some of their weapons and operational boats.
CP Azare stated that the rescued fishermen have since been reunited with their families and have received medical attention, while efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing pirates who have been terrorising fishermen and other waterways users in the coastal areas of Akwa Ibom State.
He emphasised that the command has put in place a robust security architecture for the riverine and coastal communities, including increased marine patrols, establishment of more marine posts and collaboration with local fishermen and community leaders to provide timely information about suspicious activities on the waterways.
The Police Commissioner called on members of the public to continue to support the police with credible and timely information that will help in the fight against crime, assuring that all information provided will be treated with utmost confidentiality and that the identities of informants will be protected.
He also warned criminal elements and their sponsors to desist from their nefarious activities or be prepared to face the full wrath of the law, stating that the command under his leadership has zero tolerance for criminality and will deploy all available resources to ensure that Akwa Ibom remains peaceful and safe for all.
Residents who have been following the activities of the command have commended CP Azare and his officers for their commitment, professionalism and recent successes, noting that the arrest of the vandals in Mkpat Enin and the rescue of the fishermen in Ibeno are clear indications that the police in Akwa Ibom are working and are determined to protect lives and property across the state.
