The Akwa Ibom State Police Command on Monday rolled out an impressive end-of-year scorecard, revealing that it rescued 74 victims of human trafficking, freed 10 kidnapped persons, and secured 33 criminal convictions from 563 arrests throughout 2025.
Commissioner of Police CP Baba Muhammad Azare, who presented the achievements during a press briefing at the command’s headquarters in Ikot Akpanabia, Uyo, described the state’s security landscape as “generally peaceful, calm and stable” despite persistent national challenges.
The successes, according to the CP, stemmed from a deliberate shift to intelligence-led policing, aggressive patrols, strategic personnel deployment, robust community cooperation, and seamless collaboration with other security agencies.
Key operational highlights included:
– Rescue of 74 human trafficking victims — all reunited with their families
– Rescue of 10 kidnapped persons
– Recovery of 179 assorted arms
– Seizure of 323 rounds of ammunition** and 100 live cartridges
Azare emphasized that these recoveries have significantly disrupted criminal networks operating within and across state borders.
With the festive season underway, the command has already ramped up security measures, including intensified stop-and-search operations, increased visible patrols, and targeted deployments across all 31 local government areas to guarantee a hitch-free Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Looking to 2026, CP Azare outlined a forward-leaning agenda: deeper intelligence-driven crime prevention, intensified crackdowns on violent crimes, cultism, armed robbery, and kidnapping, as well as renewed emphasis on community policing to strengthen public trust.
The command also plans to sharpen its response to emerging threats such as cybercrime and the proliferation of fake news, working closely with sister agencies to stay ahead of sophisticated criminal tactics.
In closing, the Commissioner expressed gratitude to the Inspector-General of Police for “purposeful leadership and unwavering support,” and commended the Akwa Ibom State Government for its consistent logistical and financial backing.
The 2025 figures represent a clear upward trajectory in operational effectiveness for the Akwa Ibom Police Command — a performance that residents and stakeholders will hope translates into even greater safety and stability in the year ahead.
