The Cross River State Police Command has recovered five locally made guns and cartridges after raiding a criminal hideout in Iso-bendeghe community in the Boki local government area of the state.
Police Commissioner of Cross River State, CP Rashid Bello Afegbua, disclosed this during a conversation with LEADERSHIP on Thursday in Calabar.
The CP stated that the stride was achieved when he ordered his men to pursue a gang of criminal elements who vandalised an operational van belonging to the Nigeria Police and fled into the forest.
He said that his men, upon combing the community forest, in search of hoodlums suspected to be responsible for the violent attack on the 75 PMF Patrol Team in Iso-Bendeghe on August 5, 2025, where an operational vehicle belonging to the police was vandalised.
The CP stated that after a serious search of the forest, the police arrived at a particular place where the hoodlums had camped.
A release dated August 7, 2025, from the Police Public Relations Officer, Police PPRO Irene Ugbo, sighted by LEADERSHIP, stated that the hoodlums were apprehended by the police men who went out for the operation, recovering five locally made guns and cartridges.
“Following an attack on 75 PMF Patrol Team at Iso -Bendeghe at about 1145 pm of 5th August, 2025, where the operational vehicle was damaged, with no personnel hurt,”. The release was maintained.
The release stated that the stride was achieved following assistance from the 245 Battalion Ikom, Cross River State’s army.
“A combined team of 75 PMF personnel with soldiers from 245 Battalion, Ikom, led by the DPO Boki Division, executed the CP directive as they stormed an abandoned hospital in the village, currently in the bush, where the hoodlums camped.
“Upon sensing the presence of the Police, they scampered helter-skelter in the bush abandoning five (5) locally-made guns, expended cartridges, machetes, clubs, motorcycles, cooking utensils, other dangerous charms, and took to their heels”.
The release stated.
The police Commissioner warned that while the State Government advocates peace between the two warring communities and the security agencies stationed within the locality to maintain peace, the Command will no longer tolerate any attack on security personnel.
He assured all law-abiding community residents that they should go about their normal businesses as their security is guaranteed.
