Police arrest kidnapper, recover human remains in Mkpat Enin

Nkereuwem Effiong

Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have arrested a suspected notorious kidnapper and cultist in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area in a breakthrough in the ongoing crackdown on violent crime.

The command said the suspect, identified as Ubong Michael, also known as “Ubong Boy”, 30, had long been on its wanted list.

The command, through its Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, on Thursday, added that the suspect was arrested on April 22, 2026, at about 5:00 pm in Ikot Aka Village following credible intelligence.

According to her, operatives swiftly mobilised to the location after receiving information that the suspect, who had been hiding in Port Harcourt, had secretly returned to the community.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Michael is a key figure in several kidnapping operations, including the abduction of victims identified simply as Gabriel in 2023 and John in 2025.

Items recovered during a search conducted at the time of his arrest included a human skull believed to belong to a victim, a human bone, two live cartridges and a dagger.

The police said the suspect has confessed to his involvement in the crimes and is currently assisting investigators with useful information to track down other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover additional weapons.

The Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, commended the operatives for their swift, intelligence-led operation and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling violent crime across the state.

He warned criminal elements to desist from unlawful activities or face the full weight of the law, stressing that Akwa Ibom would remain hostile to criminals. The command urged residents to remain vigilant and continue to provide timely and credible information to support ongoing security efforts, assuring the public of its resolve to safeguard lives and property.