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Police raid suspected criminal hideout in Idu Uruan at 1:30 am
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Two suspected drug dealers, Fortune and Comfort Effiong, arrested
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Large quantity of substances suspected to be Indian hemp and Cannabis sativa recovered
September 12, (THEWILL) – The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has raided a suspected criminal hideout in Idu Uruan Village, Uruan Local Government Area, arresting two suspected drug dealers and recovering a large quantity of substances suspected to be Indian hemp and Cannabis sativa.
The operation, conducted at about 1:30 am on September 9, 2026, followed what the Command described as credible intelligence on the activities of suspected criminals operating from the location.
The suspects, identified as Fortune Effiong, male, and Comfort Effiong, female, were arrested when police operatives carried out a coordinated raid on the hideout.
A search of the premises reportedly led to the recovery of substantial quantities of substances suspected to be Indian hemp and Cannabis sativa, which the police said were believed to have been intended for distribution and consumption.
A police officer who spoke exclusively with THEWILL on condition of anonymity said the raid was part of a broader intelligence-driven strategy to disrupt the supply chain supporting criminal activities in the state.
“The focus is not only on arresting people after crimes have been committed, but also on identifying places where criminal activities are being organised or sustained. Once credible intelligence points to such locations, the Command is prepared to move against them”, the officer said.
The officer added that the police were particularly concerned about the relationship between illicit drug distribution and other forms of criminality, noting that operations would continue to target individuals and networks involved in the distribution of narcotics.
“We will continue to dismantle these hideouts because they can become breeding grounds for other crimes. The public should understand that information from residents is very important. When people give timely and credible information, it enables us to intervene before these activities escalate into more serious security threats”, he added.
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The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, commended the operatives involved in the operation for their courage and professionalism and directed that the investigation be pursued to its logical conclusion.
Azare reiterated the Command’s zero-tolerance approach towards criminal black spots, drug dealers, cultists, violent offenders and other criminal elements, warning that the state would not be allowed to become a safe haven for activities capable of threatening the peace and security of residents.
The Command also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide timely information about suspected criminal activities, assuring residents that such information would be treated confidentially.
The suspects remain in police custody as the investigation continues.
