In the past month, law enforcement in Awka Ibom has successfully rescued four individuals from kidnapping incidents, including a woman who staged her own abduction. Additionally, 52 suspects have been apprehended for various offences, such as murder, armed robbery, child trafficking, cultism, and fraud.
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Waheed Ayilara, disclosed these developments during a press briefing in Uyo on Friday. Among the cases highlighted was the fraudulent kidnapping scheme orchestrated by a female resident of Nung Oku village in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, who demanded a ransom of N4 million before being apprehended by authorities.
“A report was received on Monday from one Enobong Sampson that her sister had been kidnapped and that the kidnappers were demanding N4 million as ransom. As a result, operatives of Anti-kidnapping Squad of the Command embarked on an intense and intelligence-driven operation to track down the kidnappers and rescue the victim. On Tuesday, however, the purported victim and her boyfriend were arrested at a hideout at Mbierebe Obio, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area. She confessed to have conpired with her boyfriend and three others to proclaim her kidnap to raise money for her aunty based outside the country,” Ayilara said.
On Wednesday, authorities apprehended a man in Uruting village, Okobo Local Government Area, for fatally attacking his 75-year-old father with a machete. According to the police commissioner, the suspect justified his actions by claiming that his father had sold all his land, including the one designated for the suspect’s house.
Furthermore, on March 8, law enforcement detained an individual in Ayam village, Etinan Local Government Area, for involvement in the production of counterfeit fruit drinks and other fake goods. Also, on the same day, police rescued and arrested a man who utilized Point of Sale machines to defraud unsuspected citizens, narrowly averting a potential mob attack.
The commissioner noted that many of the fraudster’s victims had positively identified him, and authorities seized N350,000 in cash from him during yjearrest. He assured that all suspects would face prosecution once investigations were completed.