The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has rescued two abducted men and recovered a firearm following a swift, intelligence-led operation in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of the state.

The kidnapping, according to information from Police authorities, is a fallout of a long-running communal land dispute.

The incident, which occurred on April 15, 2026, at about 8:19 p.m., was triggered when suspected assailants from Edem Idim Okpot Village attacked residents of Odoro Atasung Village who had gone to harvest palm fruits in a swampy area reportedly under dispute.

During the attack, two men, identified as Sunday, 68, and Samuel, 41, were abducted and taken to an unknown location.

Acting on credible intelligence, police operatives launched a coordinated operation in the early hours of April 16. At about 6:10 a.m., officers stormed a suspected hideout of the abductors. The suspects fled on sighting the police, abandoning the victims.

Both men were rescued unhurt and have since been reunited with their families.

A locally made short gun and a live cartridge were recovered at the scene, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the violence is linked to a protracted dispute over ownership of the palm plantation, a matter currently before a Customary Court in Ikot Ubo Village.

In response to rising tensions, the police have invited leaders of both communities to a peace meeting aimed at de-escalating the crisis and promoting dialogue.

The Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, warned all parties against taking the law into their own hands, urging them to allow legal processes to run their course.

The Command reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining peace and security across the state, assuring residents that those responsible for the attack will be brought to justice. (Tribune)