RismadarVoice Reporters, April 17, 2026
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has rescued two abducted persons and recovered a firearm following an intelligence-driven operation in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.
The victims, Mr. Sunday, 68, and Mr. Samuel, 41, were reportedly abducted on April 15, 2026, when suspected gunmen attacked residents of Odoro Atasung Village who had gone to harvest palm fruits in a disputed swamp area.
Police sources said the attackers, believed to be from neighbouring Edem Idim Okpot Village, carried out the assault amid a lingering dispute over ownership of the palm fruit plantation.
Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Command stormed a suspected hideout in the early hours of April 16. On sighting the police, the suspects fled the scene, abandoning the victims, who were rescued unharmed.
The victims were later reunited with their families.
During the operation, officers recovered a locally made short gun and a live cartridge, while a manhunt has been launched to apprehend those responsible for the attack.
Preliminary findings by the police indicate that the incident is connected to a long-standing communal dispute, which is currently before a Customary Court sitting in Ikot Ubo Village.
In a bid to prevent further escalation of tensions, the Police Command has invited leaders of the two communities for a peace meeting.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, warned against resorting to violence, urging all parties involved to allow the law to take its course.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property and maintaining peace across Akwa Ibom State.
