By Abdullahi Inuwa
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has intensified its crackdown on criminal hideouts across the state, arresting five suspected drug dealers and recovering various substances suspected to be illicit drugs.
The arrests followed an intelligence-led raid carried out by operatives of the Command on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at about 4:00 p.m. at a suspected criminal hideout in Mbak Itam, Ikot Mbang.
The operation was conducted under the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, as part of the Command’s ongoing “Operation Zero Black Spot”, aimed at identifying and dismantling locations allegedly used by criminals as safe havens.
The five suspects arrested during the operation were identified as Abraham Emmanuel, Happiness Archibong, Esther Okon, Esther Udo and Chinedu Benjamin.
Police said several other suspects escaped after sighting the approaching police vehicle.
Items recovered during the raid included large quantities of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, Tramadol, “Loud” and “Ice”, as well as ₦42,000, suspected to be proceeds from the illicit drug trade.
The Commissioner of Police commended the operatives for their courage, vigilance and commitment to duty, stressing that the Command would sustain intelligence-driven operations against criminal elements operating across the state.
According to the Command, particular attention would be given to isolated locations allegedly being used as bases for drug trafficking, cultism and other violent criminal activities.
The Police further warned that criminals would have no safe haven in Akwa Ibom, as the Zero Black Spot initiative would continue to target and dismantle locations facilitating criminal activities.
The Command also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information that could assist security agencies in preventing and detecting crime.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, LLB, ANIPR, FCLMI, issued the statement on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.
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