The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested four alleged kidnappers said to be terrorising Eket local government area and its’ environs.
Speaking on Friday the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko MacDon said the suspects were arrested on Wednesday, October 30th at Ikot Ubo in Nsit Ubium local government area of the state, but one escaped with a gun shot wound as a result of a gun battle with the police.
He said though the victim, one Mrs Glory Samuel was rescued unhurt, she was receiving treatment in an unknown hospital in Eket.
He stated that the husband of the victim, Mr Samuel Ekerenam, had paid a ransom of N3 million to the abductors, adding that the kidnappers however demanded for an additional N17 million before the victim could be released.
“We are here in Ikot Ubo in Nsit Ubium to demolish a building because it is a kidnappers den. Mrs Glory Samuel was kidnapped on the 17th of October and kept in a very deplorable circumstance but thank God for the Nigeria Police, Akwa Ibom State Command.
“The team was ably led by IGP Special Tactical Squad; they were able to work in conjunction with the Area Command in Eket and in partnership with people of Akwa Ibom, as well as the Chairman of Eket LG.
“The IGP Special Tactical Squad was able to identify the kidnappers den where the victim was kept; there was a gun duel with the kidnappers and by the grace of God, some of them were taken down.
“Four suspected kidnappers were caught and one escaped, the woman was rescued unhurt and she was the only victim there as at the time of rescue.
“Kidnapping does not pay, crime does not pay in any way. This is meant to show that whosoever is involved in things like this has the long arm of the law to catch up with,” he stated.
MacDon said the suspected kidnappers were responsible for kidnappings in Eket and the surrounding local government areas in the state.
He said the Police raided the kidnappers den, demolished the building and its boys quarter on October 31, in Ikot Ubo, Nsit Ubium LGA, adding that the demolished building would serve as a deterrent to other people who had the intention of indulging into kidnapping.
He noted that the Akwa Ibom State Police Command and the Tactical squad would unravel all the mystery of kidnapping in the area.