Police neutralise 3 in A’Ibom, arrest fake kidnap suspects

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom says they have neutralised three members of an armed gang during a return attack to kidnap a Rev. Father they once kidnapped and released in Akwa Ibom for ransom.

The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom Command, CP Joseph Eribo, disclosed this in Uyo on Monday during media briefing since the assumption of duty two weeks ago.

“We have neutralised three daredevil criminals notorious for kidnapping and other criminal acts.

“We have it on record that they once kidnapped a prominent Reverend Father, took him somewhere in this state and ransom was collected.

“This time they were coming for a second mission to pick the Rev. Father again because one informant told them that the target had a lot of money to give out.

“We acted on a very credible intelligence and we were able to neutralise three of them,” Eribo said.

The police command also nabbed a fake kidnapped suspect on Sept. 12, who wanted to extort their parents by arranging his own kidnap.

Eribo said acting on intelligence information operatives of the command responded swiftly, traced and rescued the victim along Uyo village road.

“On Sept. 12, at about 2:00 pm, one Samuel Effiong ‘m’ of Obot Itu in Itu Local Government Area reported that he received a call from one Inyene Okon ‘m’ has been kidnapped and that a ransom of N70,000 should be paid for his release.

“Police Operatives swiftly traced and rescued the victim, along Uyo Village Road, the victim’s hands and legs were tied.

“Alleged kidnappers on sighting the Police took to their heels, one Isaac Michael Akpan ‘m’ was arrested and a tricycle recovered.

“On interrogation, the victim confessed faking his own kidnap to obtain money from his principal,” he said.

Eribo also said within the last two weeks, he recorded other breakthroughs to include; two cases of unlawful possession of firearms with the arms recovered.

He said the police also arrested two women suspects for child theft, the children were taken from the state and sold outside for various amount ranging from N400,000 to N600,000.

The police commissioner said that all the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Eribo called on Akwa Ibom people to furnish the command with useful information on crimes and criminal elements for prompt action.

He added that the command would not fail to reward outstanding police officers for doing a good job while at the same time punish the erring ones.

He said, “Justice must be done and seen to be served on all citizens, we must treat citizens with courtesy and fairness at all times. Extortion of any kind will not be tolerated by the Command’s hierarchy.”