The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said it had rescued five persons from the den of two notorious kidnappers.
The kidnappers were said to have hijacked a Power Link Transit Company bus conveying passengers from Port Harcourt to Uyo, where they robbed and kidnapped five of them.
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The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Odiko Macdon, said the kidnappers demanded N20 million ransom each from the victims after blindfolding and tying their hands at Ikpe Annang forest in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area where they were kept.
“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, neutralised two of the kidnappers identified as Thankgod Ezekiel Udo of Ikpe Annang and Imo Okarafor John aka “Nkwokwo” while others escaped with bullet wounds into the river.
“Five victims who were found blindfolded were rescued namely Miss Blessing Elkanem aged 19yrs, Mr Kingsley Elkanem aged 23yrs, Mrs Chioma Gabriella aged 25yrs, Mr Idorenyin Maurice Inim aged 23yrs, and Mr Uko Clement aged 39 yrs. While AK 47 magazine with ammunitions was recovered,” he stated.
The PPRO added that a gang responsible for most robberies and car snatching within Uyo Metropolis had also been arrested.