Police Dismantle Notorious Kidnap Gang in Akwa Ibom, Recover Arms and N3.1M Cash

Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have dismantled a notorious kidnap gang operating in Ikot Ekpene and Essien Udim communities.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, stated in a release on Sunday, March 9, 2025, that police operatives engaged the suspects in a gun duel, resulting in the death of one gang member.

Four others were arrested, and officers recovered weapons along with N3.1 million, suspected to be proceeds from ransom payments.

“In a sustained effort to rid Akwa Ibom State of criminal elements, operatives of the Command successfully neutralized members of a notorious kidnap syndicate responsible for a series of high-profile kidnappings in Ikot Ekpene, Essien Udim, and surrounding areas of the state,” the statement read.

Acting on credible intelligence, a joint tactical team of the Command raided multiple criminal hideouts in Ikpe Annang, Ikpe Ikot Akpan, and Ikot Inyang in Essien Udim LGA.

“Upon sighting the operatives, the suspects opened fire in a desperate bid to evade arrest. The gallant officers responded decisively, engaging them in a gun duel.

“At the end of the operation, all the five suspects sustained various degrees of injuries and were taken to the hospital for medical treatment where one of them died while receiving treatment.

The following items were recovered from them: one AK-47 rifle, one G3 rifle, one pump-action rifle, one locally made Dane gun, a bag of crayfish, one tambourine, an electric power amplifier, one conga drum, a three GSM button phones and cash sum of Three Million One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Six Hundred Naira (N3,130,600), believed to be ransom proceeds.”

Further investigations are ongoing to arrest other fleeing suspects.