Police Refutes Misleading Publication On Abduction, Tasks Media On Professionalism

By Idorenyin UMOREN, Security Evaluator

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has refuted a misleading publication by some media houses recently.

This was contained in a Press Release issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Timfon John in Uyo and dated October 26, 2025.

According to the Release: “The attention of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command has been drawn to misleading publications in the media that armed men raided students lodge, abducted 15 students and carted away valuable properties in Ikot Ekpene.

“The Command wishes to categorically state that the incident was not an abduction by unknown gunmen and no student was abducted from the lodge.

“It is imperative to set the record straight and reassure the general public that the operation in question was a lawfully conducted exercise by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Uyo Zonal Office. For clarity, the command on October 24, 2025, at about 0430hrs, received a distress call alleging an armed robbery operation at Ikot Uboh Village, Ikot Ekpene. In a swift response, our teams were mobilized and deployed tactically to the scene, cordoning off the area to engage the supposed threat.

“Upon arrival at the scene and subsequent professional challenge by our officers, it was established that the operatives at the location were from the EFCC, conducting a sanctioned operation. Some persons were arrested by the EFCC during this operation and not abducted as claimed by the media reports.

“While we acknowledge the vital role of the press in society, we urge journalists and media houses to cross-check facts with the Police Command before publishing stories of this nature as inaccurate reporting is capable of causing unnecessary panic,” DSP John said.