The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has recorded another operational success in its sustained crackdown on criminal activities across the State, following the recovery of suspected stolen items and vandalized transformer components during a late-night operation.
On the 12th of May, 2026, at about 2345 hours, through credible information that a suspicious vehicle was sighted moving around the area under questionable circumstances.
A statement signed by the command public relations officer DSP Timfon John on behalf of the state commissioner of police Baba Mohammad Azare said acting swiftly on the intelligence, Operatives immediately dispatched to the scene. On sighting the approaching Police patrol team from a distance, the occupants of the suspicious vehicle abandoned the vehicle and fled in different directions into nearby bushes.
The operatives gave the suspects a hot chase but they escaped due to the terrain and darkness of the area.
A thorough search conducted on the abandoned vehicle, a dark green Ford bus with Registration Number SMK 438 XA Lagos, led to the recovery of several exhibits, including:
* Forty (40) pieces of 25-litre containers of red oil suspected to have been stolen from a shop;
* Three (3) coils of transformer copper wire suspected to have been vandalized from electricity transformers;
* Several tools including cutters, spanners, and other equipment commonly used for vandalism activities.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the recovered exhibits were vandalized and stolen from locations within Nsit Ibom Local Government Area.
The owner of the red oil, one Mr. Sunday, who had reportedly discovered that his shop was burgled and had been trailing the suspects, later arrived at the station and identified the recovered items.
The exhibits have since been recovered to the station for safekeeping, while frantic efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects.
Investigation is still ongoing.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command remains committed to protecting lives and property and urges members of the public to continue partnering with the Police by providing timely and useful information that will aid crime prevention and detection.
