Akwa Ibom
Akwa Ibom: NAPTIP Says 68 Trafficking Victims Rescued, 62 Alleged Traffickers
Akwa Ibom: NAPTIP Says 68 Trafficking Victims Rescued, 62 Alleged Traffickers
Akwa Ibom: NAPTIP says 68 trafficking victims rescued, 62 alleged traffickers. Mr Ekwere said that out of the 68 victims rescued, 51 were females and 17 were males.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons says the agency rescued 68 victims and apprehended 62 suspected human traffickers in Akwa Ibom in 2025.
The Uyo zonal commander of NAPTIP, Ubong Ekwere, disclosed this on Thursday in Uyo. Mr Ekwere said that out of the 68 victims rescued, 51 were females and 17 were males.
He said that five of the victims were still in their shelter, while the rest had been reunited with their families “Five are still there in our shelter, which comprises two males, one female, and two babies,” Mr Ekwere said.
Mr Ekwere also disclosed that during the year under review, the command received 58 trafficking cases.
“Out of the 58 cases, police transferred five cases to us, four from DSS, two from the Nigeria Immigration Service, and Uyo Command personally handled 47 cases,” he said.
He said that the command secured two convictions, while 22 cases were still pending in court and undergoing prosecution at different stages. “We expect to secure more convictions this year to serve as a deterrent to human traffickers in the state,” he said.
The zonal commander said that the command would continue to embark on aggressive sensitisation to churches, mosques, schools, and rural communities to expose the dangers of human trafficking and traffickers’ antics to the people.
He expressed displeasure that Akwa Ibom had been an endemic state for human trafficking. Mr Ekwere called on state and local government authorities to join hands with NAPTIP to ensure the fight against human trafficking is won.
He urged parents and guardians to be vigilant, as there was a new trend of human trafficking in the state, which involved the selling of babies. He stressed that it was a very serious crime against the state, and anyone caught would face the full wrath of the law.
He called on state and local governments to get involved in fighting the menace of human trafficking in the state, stressing that the vulnerable children were from the state and local government areas.
NAPTIP
He appealed to parents and guardians to be mindful of those coming to take their young girls with the intention of greener pastures, stressing that they might end up in child labour or prostitution.
The zonal commander solicited support from the state government, well-meaning individuals, and organisations in the state to support the agency in the fight against human trafficking, as the federal government could not do it alone.
The zonal commander urged traffickers to desist from such acts, as the state and country were no longer safe for such erroneous crime.
He called on stakeholders to collaborate with NAPTIP to ensure human trafficking and, especially, child theft are eradicated from the state.
He commended sister security agencies for their partnership and collaboration in intelligence sharing to stem the nefarious activities of human trafficking.
He lamented that the command had no operational vehicle to move across the state’s 31 LGAs and appealed for support from the government and multinational organisations operating in Akwa Ibom.
Akwa Ibom Indigenes Protest RMAFC Meeting, Warn Against Tampering With State’s Oil Wells
Akwa Ibom indigenes protest RMAFC meeting, warn against tampering with State’s Oil Wells. Akwa Ibom indigenes resident in Abuja on Tuesday stormed the venue of a meeting of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), where the Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC) on Disputed/New Oil Wells was sitting, to protest what they described as attempts to reopen a matter already settled by the Supreme Court.
The protesters cautioned that no individual or agency should tamper with Akwa Ibom State’s 76 oil wells, stressing that the ownership of the wells was conclusively determined in favour of the state by the Supreme Court in 2012.
They insisted that any move to revisit the issue through administrative or technical processes would amount to a disregard for the authority of the apex court and could undermine peace in the Niger Delta region.
Akwa Ibom State was formally represented at the IATC meeting by a high-powered delegation comprising leading legal practitioners, government officials and technocrats. Members of the delegation included Paul Usoro, SAN; Assam Assam, SAN; the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, SAN; Uwemedimo Nwoko, SAN; Emmanuel Enoidem, SAN; and a former Attorney-General of Akwa Ibom State.
Akwa Ibom Indigenes Protest RMAFC Meeting
Also on the state’s delegation were the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Emem Bob, Former Attorney General and Commissioner Justice, Barr. Ekpenyong Ntekim; the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Aniekan Umanah; Honourable Member representing Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency, Dr Patrick Umoh, among others.
The delegation is expected to present Akwa Ibom State’s position before the committee, reiterating that the Supreme Court judgment remains final and binding, and urging all relevant federal agencies to respect and uphold the ruling.
PVC, APC E-Registration: Umo Eno Charges Constituents To Embrace Exercises
PVC, APC e-registration: Umo Eno charges constituents to embrace exercises. Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has urged indigenes and residents of Ibiakpan Obotim Ward II, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, as well as others across the state, to participate in the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and APC membership e-registration exercise, as, according to him, it is crucial for validating party membership and ensuring their voices are heard.
Addressing a crowd of APC members and supporters at his hometown, Ikot Ekpene Udo, the Governor said that boosting both registrations is also critical to attracting more dividends, programmes, and welfare to the area.
“More party membership in a particular Ward implies more allocation of the party’s welfare to the place. And, I enjoin you to step up the membership numbers in order to be significant and relevant in the party’s scheme of things,” he noted.
The Governor directed the people to ensure that they register appropriately with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to have their Permanent Voters Cards, PVC, and become eligible to participate in future electoral exercises.
“No matter how populated you are in your party, if you don’t have your PVC, such a party population will be meaningless because your vote would not be counted as expected.
Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno
“So, I urge you to take these things very seriously and act accordingly for you and our people to be qualified to participate adequately in the upcoming elections,” he stressed.
Having gone round during the day to inspect the ongoing 120-metre Ofriyo–Eket Bridge and the 2.5 kilometre dual carriageway connecting Eket and Nsit Ubium Local Government Areas, and the ongoing General Hospital project in Ikot Ekpene Udo, the Governor enjoined the people to fully support the projects and other developmental initiatives of the administration for the overall benefit of the local government are
Police Arrests Suspected Car Snatcher, Recover Stolen Vehicle In Akwa Ibom
Police arrests suspected car snatcher, recover stolen cehicle in Akwa Ibom. The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a suspected car thief and recovered a stolen vehicle in a swift operation in Uyo.
According to a statement released by the Command and signed by DSP Timfon John, LLB, Anipr, Police Public Relations Officer.
The incident occurred on 20th January 2026 around 11:30 pm, when operatives on routine night patrol along Godswill Akpabio International Stadium responded to a distress call from a man, a Bolt driver, who reported that his Toyota Corolla had been stolen at gunpoint.
Police quickly traced the stolen vehicle to Nkwot Ikono Village, Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of Sunday Okon, a resident of Nna Enin Village, Uruan Local Government Area.
The suspect, who was found in possession of the stolen Toyota Corolla (registration DKA 337 CB) reportedly confessed to the crime during preliminary interrogation.
The Police Command said that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal gang and recover their weapons.
Police Arrests
Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare fsi, commended the prompt response and professionalism of the officers, reassuring residents of the Command’s commitment to combating violent crimes and protecting lives and property across the state.
The public has been urged to remain vigilant and provide timely information to assist police operations.
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