The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has foiled a planned kidnapping operation in Oron Local Government Area, recovering weapons, ammunition, speedboats and outboard engines allegedly linked to a suspected criminal syndicate.

The command said the operation followed intelligence about a planned kidnapping within the Oron axis.

Marine Police operatives, working with Marine Hunters, subsequently raided a suspected criminal camp along the Calabar-Oron Channel.

The operation led to the recovery of one Jojeef English pump-action gun, two cartridges and a white rope suspected to have been intended for criminal activities.

Also recovered were two speedboats, three 200-horsepower outboard engines and one 15-horsepower outboard engine.

The police said the recovered items had been secured for documentation and further investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, commended the operatives and Marine Hunters for the successful operation.

He urged residents, boat operators and fishermen to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons, vessels and activities to the police.