Police Free Quarry Workers Held Hostage By Sacked Staff

The Cross River State Police Command has rescued workers held hostage by group of youths who were laid off by the Akamkpa Quarry Company Ltd two days earlier.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Cross River Command, Irene Ugbo disclosed this to LEADERSHIP via a telephone interview on Tuesday in Calabar.

The sacked workers had on August 11, 2025, mobilised some youths who were armed with dangerous weapons including locally made pistols, machetes and guns to storm the company’s premises, and held the staff and management hostage.

Ugbo stated that the rampaging youths vandalised the company’s vehicle to express their grievance for sacking them.

The rampaging youths also set the palace of the traditional ruler ablaze, and held the Indian nationals who were management of the company hostage.

“Upon receiving the distress call, the DPO of Akamkpa Division headquarters immediately contacted the State Commissioner of Police, CP Rashid Afegbua, who without delay dispatched a tactical team to join forces with the DPO to quell the situation.

“Upon arrival, the irate youths, hurled stones at Police patrol vehicles causing damage and fired locally made pistol pellets at them which caused some of them to sustain minor injuries.

“The Police had no option than to respond by engaging the rampaging youths, arresting some suspects,” Ugbo said.

She listed the items recovered from the protesters to include one automatic locally made rifle, and a locally made pistol, one machete and a number of expended cartridges.