Police crush notorious kidnap syndicate in Akwa Ibom

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has successfully dismantled a notorious kidnapping syndicate responsible for a string of high-profile abductions across Ikot Ekpene, Essien Udim, and neighboring communities.

In a statement released on Monday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, confirmed that police operatives, acting on credible intelligence, conducted coordinated raids on multiple criminal hideouts in Ikpe Annang, Ikpe Ikot Akpan, and Ikot Inyang within the Essien Udim Local Government Area.

During the operation, the suspects opened fire on security personnel in an attempt to escape, leading to a fierce gun battle. However, the police overpowered the criminals, effectively dismantling the syndicate.

At the end of the operation, five suspects sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital, where one of them died while receiving treatment.

Items recovered from the gang included an AK-47 rifle, a G3 rifle, a pump-action rifle, a locally made Dane gun, and a cash sum of N3,130,600, suspected to be ransom proceeds.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to eradicating crime and warned criminals to stay away from the state.

He commended the officers for their bravery and urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.

The Command assured the public that efforts are ongoing to track down fleeing suspects and ensure Akwa Ibom remains safe for all law-abiding citizens.