By Egufe Yafugborhi & Chioma Onuegbu

UYO – POLICE in Akwa Ibom state have released 17 members of a social group, the Friends Forum, who were arrested over ongoing mass raids of perceived criminal hideouts in the states.

Vanguard had reported the outcry of relatives of the 17 friends who asserted that their arrest on 2 February at a sit-out on Atiku Abubakar Way, Uyo by the Police was unlawful as they had just returned from the funeral of the father of a member when the police swooped on them.

Their arrest came two days after the gruesome killing of a Police Inspector Usang Egbe in Afaha Ube Itam suburb of the Akwa Ibom state capital.

The State Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Odiko MacDon, had following their arrest, announced they were among 22 persons arrested between 31 January and 2nd February 2024 in connection with the murder of Inspector Egbe and sundry crimes.

Vanguard gathered Tuesday morning that the 17 persons were released from police detention Sunday evening after 19 days in detention.

Meanwhile, PPRO MacDon has said the recourse to ongoing mass raids and arrests was to rid the state of criminals and not to witch-hunt or extort on innocent residents.

MadDon explained yesterday that, “Raiding is a security strategy targeted at keeping criminal elements at bay. It has yielded a lot of positive successes. It is taking the fight to the criminals rather waiting for them to plan and execute their nefarious acts.

“However, raiding is coordinated in a way that does not affect innocent residents a lot but rather inconvenience the criminals.

“Immediately after raiding, the Police are expected to screen those arrested and sift the criminally minded from the good citizens and the good should be allowed to go”

“Where a person is about to be or is being or has been extorted, quickly call the Command Complaint Response Unit, created by the Commissioner of Police Waheed Ayilara and report same for prompt action.

“The CP is committed to the general safety of the people with professionalism as a guiding principle. The Complaints Response Unit (CRU) lines are : 08039213071 and 08020913810.

“Residents should expect more raiding of Criminal hideouts. We solicit the understanding and cooperation of Akwa Ibomites, please”