Police clear air on reported abduction of 15 students in Ikot Ekpene

Akwa Ibom. State Police command has described as false and misleading, media reports of armed men raiding students’ lodge in Ikot Ekpene and carting away valuables and abducting 15 students.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, in a statement on Sunday said the incident was not abduction by unknown gunmen but a lawfully conducted exercise by an anti-graft agency, the Economic Financial Crimes Commission. EFCC, Uyo Zonal Office.

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

Narrating what transpired, John added, “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.”

The spokesperson who acknowledged the role of the press in society, urged journalists and media houses to cross-check facts with the Police Command before publishing reports of such nature.

She also said the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State, CP Baba Mohammad Azare, commended the officers involved for their professional conduct and restraint which averted a potential ugly incident.

Azare also urged all law enforcement agencies to always notify and synergize with the police as the lead security agency in the state when carrying out operations within our Area of Responsibility, AOR, to prevent such mix ups.