Akwa Ibom police report sharp drop in violent crime as 2025 operations draw to a close
Akwa Ibom State Police Command has concluded its 2025 operations with a report that highlights both significant breakthroughs and the rising challenges of a digital age.
The details of the years performance were made public in a statement released by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare.
The report describes the security climate over the past twelve months as stable, attributing the calm to a strategy rooted in intelligence led policing and a crackdown on criminal hideouts.
The figures released by the command tell a story of a persistent battle against illicit weaponry and organized crime.
Addressing newsmen today, the Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare said over the course of 2025, officers recovered 179 assorted firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. He also confirmed that 563 suspects were arrested and charged to court for various offences, including armed robbery and cultism, resulting in 33 convictions so far.
Beyond the recovery of stolen vehicles and the dismantling of black spots, the command reported a notable success in humanitarian efforts. Police operations led to the rescue of 74 victims of human trafficking, who have since been reunited with their families, alongside 10 individuals rescued from kidnapping syndicates.
The statement indicated that a significant portion of the years enforcement focused on public order, particularly the regulation of traditional masquerade activities. By enforcing a state executive order that restricted these displays to approved locations with police supervision, the command noted a marked decrease in the violence often associated with such festivities.
However, the police chief, through the public relations office, raised an alarm over a different kind of threat; the spread of misinformation. The command expressed deep concern regarding the rise of fake news on social media, which it said has been used to create unnecessary panic and tension among the citizenry.
The statement confirmed that several arrests were made this year in connection with the fabrication of false reports, warning that the law would continue to catch up with those who use digital platforms to undermine public safety.
As the state moves into 2026, the command has outlined a roadmap that prioritizes the use of modern policing tools and a deeper focus on cybercrime. The authorities emphasized that while patrols will be intensified for the current festive season, the long term goal remains a model of community policing that relies on the trust and cooperation of traditional rulers and youth groups.
