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The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has dismissed reports alleging that unknown gunmen stormed a students’ lodge in Ikot Ekpene, abducted 15 students, and stole valuables, describing the publications as false and capable of causing unnecessary public panic. State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, in a statement on Sunday, clarified that the incident was not a kidnapping but a lawful operation carried out by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Uyo Zonal Office. She said the Police had received a distress call around 4:30 a.m. on October 24 about a suspected armed robbery at Ikot Uboh Village, Ikot Ekpene, and swiftly deployed officers to the scene. According to the Command, officers later discovered that the personnel at the location were EFCC operatives executing an authorised operation, saying that some persons were arrested by the anti-graft agency, but no student was abducted. The Police, however, urged media organisations to verify security information before publication to avoid misleading the public. Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammad Azare, commended officers for their restraint during the encounter, noting that their professionalism helped prevent a misunderstanding between security agencies. He further called on sister agencies to notify and collaborate with the Police before carrying out operations in the state. In a separate development, the Police confirmed the death of a tipper driver, Edu Obot, who was electrocuted while offloading sand beneath a high-tension power line at Utu Ikot Ekpenyong, Ikot Ekpene, on October 17. The victim’s body was evacuated and deposited at a mortuary, while investigations commenced. The Command warned tipper drivers, sand excavators, and construction site operators to desist from working under or near overhead power lines, describing electrocution as an immediate and fatal hazard. It advised workers to always survey their environment, maintain safe distances from electrical lines, and prioritise safety over convenience. The Police assured residents of continued commitment to public safety and urged journalists and members of the public to verify information through official channels. ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
