…as A’Ibom Commissioner of Police orders landlords to screen prospective tenants before…
By Ime Silas
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has reacted to a trending video circulating online in which a woman was reported to have entrusted her children to a relatively new co-tenant who allegedly absconded with them before her return in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, has consequently directed landlords, property owners and house agents across the state to henceforth exercise greater caution and carry out reasonable due diligence on prospective tenants before handing over residential accommodation to them.
The directive was contained in a press release issued on Thursday, September 17, 2026, and signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, LLB, Anipr, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.
According to the Command, the incident which reportedly occurred in Etim Ekpo is currently receiving attention, and investigation has commenced with a view to establishing the full circumstances surrounding the matter, locating the children and apprehending any person found culpable.
“The incident, which reportedly occurred in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, is currently receiving the attention of the Police, and investigation has commenced with a view to establishing the full circumstances surrounding the matter, locating the children and apprehending any person found culpable,” the statement said.
The CP said the directive to landlords follows concerns that persons with criminal intentions may secure accommodation, gain the confidence of unsuspecting co-tenants and subsequently exploit such relationships to perpetrate crimes, particularly the abduction and trafficking of children.
He therefore advised landlords and property agents to ensure that prospective tenants provide verifiable information before taking possession of any property, including valid means of identification, functional telephone numbers, previous residential addresses, next-of-kin details and credible guarantors or referees.
Landlords were further advised to maintain proper records of their tenants and promptly report suspicious conduct, unexplained movements or activities capable of threatening the safety and security of other occupants and members of the public.
The Command warned that any landlord, property agent or other person who knowingly harbours criminals, conceals the identity or whereabouts of a suspect, deliberately provides false information to investigators or otherwise assists an offender to evade arrest will be investigated and prosecuted.
“The Command warns that any landlord, property agent or other person who knowingly harbours criminals, conceals the identity or whereabouts of a suspect, deliberately provides false information to investigators or otherwise assists an offender to evade arrest will be investigated and, where sufficient evidence establishes criminal responsibility, prosecuted in accordance with the law,” CP Azare warned.
The Commissioner also issued a stern warning to content creators, bloggers and social media users against rushing sensitive cases of child abduction, trafficking and other serious crimes to social media without first liaising with the Police.
While acknowledging that social media can assist in creating awareness, the CP noted that the premature release of sensitive information concerning victims, suspects, locations or ongoing police operations can alert offenders and enable them to relocate victims, destroy evidence, change their identities or flee.
He therefore urged content creators and members of the public who come across victims or obtain credible information concerning child abduction to immediately notify the police so that appropriate investigative and rescue measures can be initiated before sensitive details are circulated publicly.
“Henceforth, anyone whose deliberate actions obstruct an investigation, conceal an offender, compromise the rescue of a victim or materially assist a suspect to evade justice under the guise of content creation will be investigated and, where evidence warrants, prosecuted under the applicable laws,” the statement added.
CP Azare also advised parents and guardians to exercise extreme caution when entrusting their children to newly acquainted neighbours, domestic workers, casual acquaintances or persons whose identities and backgrounds are not sufficiently known.
He reassured Akwa Ibom people that the Command will continue to deploy all lawful resources available to combat child abduction and trafficking, rescue victims and bring perpetrators to justice, while calling on anyone with useful information on the missing children to contact the nearest police station.
