Police Bursts Criminal Hideout In Uyo Ravene, Arrests 24, Recovers Four Abducted Ladies, Stolen Items

Men of the Nigeria Police Force, Akwa Ibom State command, on Monday raided the well known notorious Eka street ravene in Uyo and arrested 24 suspected armed robbers, kidnappers, drug addicts and other criminals.

The raid, according to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Chukwu Ikechukwu followed a security report of criminal activities which has made the area impassable for members of the public.

He said the raid led to the recovery of four abducted ladies and other stolen items including two guns, generating sets, tricycles, car batteries, school bags among others.

“Yes, following some security reports, our men raided the area and were able to arrest about 24 suspected armed robbers and kidnappers. We were also able to rescue four ladies who have been abducted”.

“The area is well known for its notoriety as most stolen items in Uyo are taken down there. Recently we have heard of reports of renewed outbreak in car battery theft, some of those batteries were recovered inside the ravene”.

“All forms of criminality are carried out there including drug deals, and since they understand the area underground better, it became very difficult to track them down in the past. But we are out to ensure we nip all forms of criminality in the bud, there is no hiding place for criminals even in the ravene”. He assured

The police spokesperson expressed optimism that the raid would reinstill some level of confidence in members of the public, especially those who have personally experienced attacks or intimidations from criminal bandits in the area.

He reported that previous attempts to rid the area of criminality failed as criminals who are better equipped with routes within the ravene attacked policemen who earlier made effort to effect some arrests in the area.

Predominantly occupied by Hausa scrap and suya dealers, the Eka street ravene spans across the University of Uyo town campus, barracks road and down to the back of the Government House.

Independent reports that the Eka street axis has in recent past became increasingly unsafe as criminals usually sighted within the deep Uyo ravene usually come out to disposes members of the public of valuable items and dashed back to the ravene where no normal human would dare to go in.

Reacting to the raid, a resident of the area who declined being mentioned appealed to the police to search further as he could not believe 24 to be just the size of the criminal occupants of the area.

The resident to referred to the ravene as criminal empire, drew the attention of the security agencies to a lady, right inside the ravene around the location of the recently relocated refuse dump who deals with hard drugs.

“This ravane spans across many kilometers, many villages, they can’t be just 24. They should search further, residents of this area can no longer sleep with both eyes closed, once they finish robbing you, they dash into the ravene and you can’t go in with them”.

“There is even a young lady who sells all manner of illicit drugs inside the ravene by the former refuse dump. You can get to whereever she is hiding by following some of her customers who sneaks into the ravene through the pathway” he said