Police nab youth leader, four others over kidnap, murder in A’Ibom

Operatives of the Inspector General of Police Tactical Team in Akwa Ibom State have arrested one Eddy Etim Onuka, a youth leader and four members of his gang for alleged kidnapping and murder.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon, who said this at a media briefing on Saturday while parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters, Ikot Akpana-Abia, added that the suspects confessed to using AK-47 rifles during the operations.

According to the PPRO, Onuka, a native of Oron LGA and youth leader of the Rice Miller Association, Oron, masterminded the two kidnaps, one of which involved one Emmanuel whom they shot while he was trying to resist them and the other, one Aniekan from whom they collected over N20 million.

The PPRO said: “This is a clear case of kidnapping, and it is a very unfortunate one. They went to abduct one Mr Emmanuel who sells engine parts and when they got there, the man resisted the kidnap and they shot him. By the grace of God, the Special Tactical Team of IGP moved in and effected the arrest. This was the first incident.

“The second incident, the same Eddy led members of the same kidnapping syndicate who succeeded this time around in abducting one Aniekan and collected over N20 million from him as ransom.

“He (Eddy) got N1.2 million which he used in buying another car. His vehicle was used in committing the crime. They confessed to the fact that they used AK-47 in that particular operation.”

The police spokesman said all the suspects played different roles in the kidnapped of their victim.

“The account was used in collecting the ransom to the tune of N1.2 million while the other person formed surveillance, giving them information about the deceased e.g. when he goes out and when he comes. This goes to underscore the need why Akwa Ibomites at every point in time need to be conscious of security because some of these people are closed to them.

“Another suspect here collected the phone number of the wife of the deceased and called her demanding for a ransom,” he added.

Macdon, who restated the commitment of the command towards ensuring the safety of lives and property of the residents, called on the good people of the state to always volunteer information that could help in combating crime and criminality in the state.

“I want to assure the good people of Akwa Ibom State that the command has no place for kidnapping, abduction and robbery, those perpetrating these acts should desist because they will always meet their Waterloo,” Macdon warned.