Police Kill Suspected Notorious Kidnap Kingpin In Akwa Ibom
Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have successfully dismantled a notorious kidnapping and armed robbery syndicate, neutralizing one of the gang’s members while arresting five others who sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Timfon John, disclosed on Monday that the gang was responsible for several high-profile kidnappings in the Ikot Ekpene and Essien Udim local government areas, as well as surrounding locations in Akwa Ibom State.
According to DSP John, the police acted on credible intelligence, leading a joint tactical team to storm multiple criminal hideouts in Ikpe Annang, Ikpe Ikot Akpan, and Ikot Inyang in Essien Udim LGA. Upon sighting the police operatives, the suspects opened fire in an attempt to evade arrest. The officers responded swiftly, engaging the suspects in a gun battle.
At the conclusion of the operation, five suspects had sustained various degrees of injuries and were taken to the hospital for medical treatment, where one of them later succumbed to his injuries.
Items recovered from the suspects included:
- 1 AK-47 rifle
- 1 G3 rifle
- 1 pump-action rifle
- 1 locally made dane gun
- A bag of crayfish
- 1 tambourine
- An electric power amplifier
- 1 conga drum
- Three GSM button phones
- A cash sum of N3,130,600, believed to be ransom proceeds.
The Commissioner of Police (CP), Akwa Ibom Command, Baba Azare, reiterated his firm stance against criminal activities, emphasizing that the state would remain a no-go zone for kidnappers, armed robbers, and other criminal elements.
He commended the bravery of the police operatives involved in the operation and urged residents to remain vigilant, cooperate with security agencies, and promptly report suspicious activities.
“The Command assures the public that efforts will be intensified to ensure Akwa Ibom State remains safe and secure for all law-abiding citizens,” DSP John concluded.
