The Cross River State Police Command says it has recovered several stolen vehicles, dismantled betting hubs used as criminal hideouts, and intensified surveillance around riverine communities notorious for illegal boat movements.
The command also revealed that it has been working round-the-clock often behind the scenes to neutralise threats, intercept criminal gangs, and prevent attacks across coastal and hinterland communities.
These were disclosed to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) state Chairman, Archibong Bassey in Calabar by the state Commissioner of Police Rashid Afegbua.
According to Afegbua, “many of the security breakthroughs achieved in recent months were results of deep intelligence-sharing among the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the military and other allied agencies.
“We receive intelligence reports daily—about sea pirates, gun runners and planned kidnappings—and we work silently to abort them. What you see as peace today comes from hard work behind the scenes.”
He said the command was also enforcing the inspector-general of police’s directive on the ban on fireworks, with operatives already deployed to markets to track sellers of banned explosives ahead of Christmas celebrations.
Afegbua stated the need for both the police and NUJ to strengthen their partnership to boost public safety and deepen information-sharing as the festive season approaches.
The police boss described the press as “the last oversight body,” noting that journalists play a critical role in holding institutions accountable and amplifying security issues that require urgent attention.
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While interacting with the police boss, the NUJ Chairman, Bassey, appealed to the command for heighten security during the festive period.
She feared that criminals often attempt to take advantage of increased human and vehicular movement to perpetrate crimes.
Bassey, stressed the need for a collaborative effort to maintain the state’s status as a peaceful and safe environment for residents and visitors.
She, however praised the police for the significant improvement in safety across the state, especially in areas like Satellite Town, which previously battled frequent robbery and kidnapping cases.
The NUJ chairman, emphasised that journalists in the state have observed “a clear reduction in theft and violent crimes,” crediting the development to the vigilance of police personnel.
