Since the 1st of January 2024, the Akwa Ibom State Police have arrested 79 suspects for various offenses.
The State Commissioner of Police Olatoye Durosinmi gave the update at a news conference at the Police Headquarters in Uyo on Friday.
Durosinmi said the operatives of the command arrested the suspects for various crimes, including murder, kidnapping, robbery and cultism.
According to him, the greatest achievement within the month was the arrest of 10 kidnappers who were planning to unleash mayhem on residents of the state.
He added that the operatives of the Ibiono Ibom Division recovered four AK-47 rifles during the operation in which the kidnappers were arrested.
“As we strive daily to keep the state safe, criminal elements too have continued to try to perpetrate their nefarious acts.
“This January alone, 79 criminal elements have been arrested for various crimes. The greatest achievement within the month was the arrest of 10 confessed kidnappers who were planning to unleash mayhem on the state and the recovery of four AK-47 rifles.
“On January 16, 2024, at about 3:45 pm, operatives of Ibiono Ibom Division, relying on credible intelligence, stormed Ibiaku Ikot Oku forest, where over 15 heavily armed suspects were camping, and engaged them in a gun duel.
“Some of the suspects escaped with bullet wounds, while four of them were arrested and one AK-47 rifle recovered. A swift follow-up operation by the anti-robbery unit of the command led to the arrest of another six suspects and the recovery of three more AK-47 rifles,” Durosinmi said.