In line with its crackdown against criminal elements in society, Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have recorded another significant operational breakthrough, with the successful dismantling of a notorious drug bunker.
During the swoop, the Operatives recovered suspected stolen property as well as arrested a suspected drug baron in Ikot Ebom Itam in Itu Local Government Area.
The State Police Command through DSP Timfon John, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), announced this in a press release to media houses on Wednesday, June 10, 2023.
DSP John said operatives of the Command, acting on credible intelligence, carried out a coordinated intelligence-led operation on the criminal enclave believed to have served as a haven for drug traffickers, receivers of stolen property, vandals, and other criminal elements who had been terrorising residents of the area.
According to her, during the operation, one suspect, a man named Ofonime Etim, a native of Ikot Ebom Itam, was arrested.
“A thorough search of the premises led to the recovery of substantial quantities of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, numerous packets of rolling papers (rizlers), axes, machetes, vandalized electrical wires, bundles of roofing sheets, aluminum windows, cartons of assorted provisions and beverages, cartons of sachet illicit gin, a submersible water pump, and several electronic and electrical appliances reasonably suspected to be stolen property.
“In the course of the operation, the Village Chairman, whose identity is withheld, positively identified the recovered submersible water pump as property belonging to the Ikot Ebom Itam Village Hall borehole facility, which had earlier been reported stolen, “.
The PPRO disclosed that upon interrogation, the suspect Ofonime Etim, reportedly confessed to stealing the pump from the community facility.
The suspect will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
She added that further investigations are ongoing to identify the owners of the recovered properties, trace additional victims, and apprehend other members of the criminal network involved in the operation.
Meanwhile, the Police have dismantled and destroyed the notorious drug bunker as residents of the community commended the Police for the successful operation, noting that the activities of the suspect and his associates had long posed a serious threat to public safety and security in the area.
The State Police Commissioner, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, has reiterated the Command’s unwavering commitment to ridding the State of drug traffickers, vandals, cultists, receivers of stolen property, and all other criminal elements.
The Commissioner warned that Akwa Ibom State will remain a hostile territory for criminals and assured that the Command will continue to intensify intelligence-driven operations aimed at identifying, dismantling, and prosecuting criminal networks operating within the State.
The Command assured members of the public that Operation Zero Black Spots remains active and effective in the state and restated its resolve to identify and dismantle all criminal hideouts, drug dens, and black spots across the State and bring those responsible to justice.
