The Police in Akwa Ibom state said it has apprehended two suspected kidnappers causing terror in Etim Ekpo local government area of the state.
It said five kidnapped victims were rescued during a shoot out with combined forces of the police and the Nigerian Army.
The state Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durosinmi, who revealed this on Tuesday in a press briefing held at the command’s headquarters in Uyo, named the suspects as Thankgod Ezekiel Udo of Ikpe Annang and Imo Okarafor John a.k.a “Nkwokwo.”
Durosinmi noted that an Ak-47 rifle with ammunitions was recovered while other suspects fled into the river during a gun duel.
The statement in part, “On 25th September, 2022 the Command received a report from one Victor Saturday Umana, driver of Akwa Ibom Power Link Transit Company based in Port Harcourt, that on the 23rd of September, 2022, being Friday, while conveying passengers from Port Harcourt to Uyo, that at about 9:21pm they were stopped at Abia Palm in Azumini by hoodlums who took over the steering and drove them to the bush, robbed them and kidnapped five of them
“The five kidnapped victims were taken deep into the forest at Ikpe Annang in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, their hands were tied and eyes blindfolded and demanded for twenty million (20m) ransom each.
“Acting on credible intelligence, on 26th September, 2022 Operatives from Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo Divisions in conjunction with the Military, stormed their den, neutralized two of the kidnappers identified as Thankgod Ezekiel Udo of Ikpe Annang and Imo Okarafor John a.k.a “Nkwokwo” while others escaped with bullet wounds into the river”
He said those rescued were Miss Blessing Elkanem, 19, Mr Kingsley Elkanem 23 and Mrs Chioma Gabriella 25, Mr Idorenyin Maurice Inim 23, and Mr Uko Clement 39.
According to him, they were rescued following an intelligence from a driver with Akwa Ibom Power Link Transit Company, one Victor Umana, based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The Police commissioner said during the period, the command also recorded another feat with the arrest of two suspected robbers, while 7 exotic cars were recovered from them.
“On 20th August, 2022 at about 7:15pm, a dangerous gang of armed robbers responsible for most robberies and car snatching within Uyo Metropolis attacked one Mr. Kelechi Orji and family along Nteps Supermarket by Oron road in Uyo, took him to ATM and forced him to withdraw all his available cash for them and took away his jeep also.
“I directed my SWAT Operatives to apprehend the perpetrators. On 10th September, 2022, SWAT Operatives professionally trailed the hoodlums who are notorious for terrorizing residents of Uyo and environs to their hid-out where a gun battle ensued, three of the gang members were fatally injured and gave up the ghost while on their way to the hospital but not before mentioning one Chima Omelazu, 45 years, from Obingwa Local Government Area in Abia State as a receiver.
“The said Chima was later arrested on the 15th of September, 2022.
“So far, a total of seven vehicles were recovered while efforts are ongoing to recover more.”
He said the recovered vehicles include one Toyota Highlander, a Lexus GX 460, ond Toyota Rav4, one Lexus 350 model, one Toyota Camry and two others.
