The Akwa Ibom State Police command said it has apprehended 10 suspected kidnappers in Ibiaku Ikot Oku Community Forest, Ibiono local government area who were planning to unleash mayhem on the state.
Parading the suspects alongside others at the command headquarters, Ikot Akpanabia, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Friday, the Commissioner of Police CP Olatoye Durosinmi noted that most of the suspects came from the neighboring states.
He said the suspects confessed that they were planning and monitoring to kidnap an expatriate involved in the construction work along Calabar-Itu Highway.
Commending the efforts of the youths and the people of Ibiaku Ikot Oku Community for providing intelligence and assisting the police, the Commissioner said four AK 47 ruffles were recovered from them.
The Commissioner also disclosed that the command has been able to arrest other 69 suspects for various offences in the month of January 2024 ranging from murder, kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism
“As we strive daily to keep the state safe, criminal elements too have continued to try to penetrate their nefarious acts.
“This January alone, 79 criminal elements have been arrested for various crimes.
“The greatest achievement within the last one month is the arrest of 10 confessed kidnappers , who were planning to unleash mayhem on the state and recovery of four AK Riffles.
“On Jan. 16, 2024 about 3:45pm, operatives of Ibiono Ibom Division, relying on credible intelligence stormed Ibiaku Ikot Oku community forest, where over 15 heavily armed suspects were camping and engaged them in gun duel.
“Some of the suspects absconded with bullet wounds while four of them were arrested and one AK 47 riffle recovered.
“Swift follow up of operation by the Anti-Robbery unit of the command led to further arrest of six suspects and the recovery of three more AK 47 riffles,” Durosinmi said.
The commissioner added the suspects will be charged to Court as soon as investigations are concluded.
