2025: Police Nab 563 Suspected Criminals, Rescue 74 Trafficking Victims

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has announced that 563 suspects were apprehended, with 74 victims of human trafficking rescued so far across the state in 2025.

This was disclosed as the Command reviewed the security situation in the outgoing year and outlined its operational focus for 2026.

Speaking during an end-of-year press conference with journalists at Ikot Akpanabia, Uyo, the state capital, Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Baba Azare, stated that the security situation in the State remained generally peaceful, calm, and stable throughout the year.

CP Azare noted that the feat was achieved through intelligence-led policing, proactive patrols, strategic deployments, community cooperation, and effective inter-agency collaboration.

He disclosed that the Command recorded significant operational successes during the year, including the arrest of suspects involved in armed robbery, cultism, kidnapping, violent crimes, and other criminal activities.

Azare added that firearms, ammunition, stolen vehicles, and other dangerous exhibits were also recovered, while several criminal hideouts and identified black spots across the state were dismantled in 2025.

The CP stated that the Command would maintain adequate security coverage for political, social, religious, and economic activities during the festive season across the State.

On public safety, the Commissioner reiterated the Command’s stance against jungle justice, unlawful gatherings, and activities that could breach public peace.

He also confirmed compliance with the state government’s Executive Order, which restricts masquerade activities to approved locations, requires police permission, and mandates security coverage. This measure is said to have significantly reduced violence and disorder.

The Commissioner also expressed concern over the increasing spread of fake news, particularly on social media, revealing that arrests were made in connection with the fabrication and circulation of false information capable of causing panic and tension, warning that offenders would continue to face the full weight of the law.

The CP emphasised community policing as a core strategy of the Command, disclosing that sustained engagement with traditional rulers, youth and women’s groups, religious leaders, market associations, transport unions, school administrators, and other stakeholders across the State would continue to define the policing strategy for sustainable peace.

He listed significant achievements during the outgoing year to include recovery of 179 assorted arms, recovery of 323 different types of ammunition, recovery of 100 pieces of live cartridges and arrest of 563 suspects for various crimes, who were charged in courts.

The Command, according to CP Azare, also recorded 14 stolen vehicles, which had been released to their owners, the rescue of 74 human trafficking victims, as well as the rescue of 10 kidnap victims, with convictions of 33 offenders, amongst others.

Looking forward to 2026, CP Azare outlined the Command’s key priorities, which include strengthening intelligence-led policing and crime prevention strategies, as well as an unrestrained clampdown on violent crimes, cultism, armed robbery, and kidnapping.

He stressed that the Police would also deepen community policing and public trust, combat cybercrime and the spread of fake news, enhance professionalism, discipline, and respect for human rights, improve deployment strategies and use of modern policing tools, as well as strengthen collaboration with sister security agencies.

He assured residents that adequate security measures have been put in place for the festive season and beyond, with intensified patrols, stop-and-search operations, and strategic deployments across all 31 local government areas.