Police Avert Bomb Threat at Ikot Ekpene Correctional Facility, Recover Explosives

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has averted a potential tragedy at the Nigerian Correctional Service Custodial Centre in Ikot Ekpene following the recovery of high explosive ordnance near the facility.

The incident occurred on April 27, 2026, after correctional authorities alerted the police to suspicious items discovered around the custodial centre. Acting on the intelligence, the Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, ordered the immediate deployment of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit from BomPol Base 38, Uyo, alongside other tactical teams to secure the area.
A coordinated search operation led to the recovery of two 90mm high explosive rounds, a 45-centimetre burning fuse, a pair of pincers, a flat screwdriver, two 12mm iron chisels, and a six-centimetre conduit iron pipe.

Police said the EOD team successfully rendered the explosive devices safe, neutralising the threat and preventing possible loss of lives and damage to critical infrastructure.
Following the operation, security has been reinforced around the correctional facility and its environs, with increased surveillance, access control, and patrols to forestall further threats.

The command said investigations and technical analysis are ongoing to determine the source of the explosives and apprehend those responsible for the act.

The police commissioner reassured residents that the situation is under control with no casualties recorded, while urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.

He warned that the command would not tolerate any attempt to undermine public safety, stressing its commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.