By KAYODE AJIBOYE

Scores of suspected criminals have been killed by military airstrikes conducted in Akwa Ibom State over attacks on police formations and the killing of some policemen in the state.

A statement on Wednesday, by Brigadier-General Mohammed Yerima, Director of Army Public Relations, (DAPR), said that following the new security threats springing up from Essien Udim Local Government Area of the state, a combined team of Military and Security Agencies in the State conducted a clearance operation at Ntak Ikot Akpan in order to flush out the miscreants.

“The operation was successfully executed and resulted in the dislogment of the criminals while fleeing hoodlums were neutralised by the Air Component.”

The statement complained that, “the general security situation in Akwa Ibom state has been very peaceful until recently when the security situation around Essien Udim Local Government Area of the State became tensed occasioned by activities of some hoodlums and criminal elements.

“The miscreants exploited various avenues to acquire weapons to perpetrate their heinous crimes.

“In the past few weeks, the group has attacked various security agencies which resulted in the loss of lives and carting away of weapons.

“The last incident led to the killing of some policemen including a CSP. The hoodlums continued to terrorise law abiding citizens through extortions and infringement on their rights.

“Normalcy has been restored in the area while the Police personnel have since assumed full control and carrying out normal duties.

“Members of the public are advised not to panic but to remain calm and continue to support the security agencies to further consolidate on the successes recorded so far”, Yerima said in the statement. (Daily Independent)

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