The attention of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command has been drawn to a publication by LEADERSHIP Newspaper’s Akwa Ibom State Correspondent, titled “Akwa Ibom Residents Decry Alleged Police Extortion, Harassment at Multiple Checkpoints.
A statement signed by the command public relations officer DSP Timfon John said the Command considers the report malicious in its framing and intended to portray the Police in a bad light. It presents unverified allegations and an estimate from an unnamed retired officer as though they establish the facts about police conduct and deployment throughout Akwa Ibom State.
For security and operational reasons, the Command does not consider it appropriate to disclose its detailed personnel strength or deployment information publicly. However, the estimate attributed to an anonymous retired officer is not even close to the Command’s actual strength and should not be presented as an authoritative figure.
The presence of officers at checkpoints on major routes does not prove that communities elsewhere have been abandoned. Deployment is guided by prevailing security needs and operational assessments. The Command rejects the sweeping suggestion that it has neglected residents outside Uyo.
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The Command urges journalists to verify facts concerning its operations with the appropriate authorities before publication. Speculation and reliance on views from retired officers who may no longer be abreast of current developments within the system can result in inaccurate reporting and mislead the public. The Command remains available to provide clarification on matters within its purview.
The Command takes specific complaints of extortion, intimidation or abuse of authority seriously. It maintains a Complaint Response Unit at the office of the Police Public Relations Department to receive, process and address complaints fairly. Members of the public who experience extortion are urged to report it to the Unit on 08102958982. They may also approach any senior police officer with a complaint at any time, as the contact numbers of senior officers in the Command are already in the public domain.
Complaints will be examined, and any officer found culpable will face appropriate disciplinary and legal action. Allegations against individuals must be established through evidence and due process; they should not be presented as proof of routine misconduct by the entire Command.
The reported injury to the child is a serious matter. The Command previously announced that the officer allegedly involved was arrested and detained for investigation. The findings and outcome of the investigation will be made available to the public soon.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command remains committed to protecting lives and property across Akwa Ibom State and holding its personnel accountable.