Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have arrested a wanted leader of a notorious kidnapping syndicate, one Ubong Effiong Archibong a.k.a Condiment.
Archibong is alleged to be leader of the smashed gunrunning syndicate specializing in kidnapping, armed robbery and renting out of arms for sundry crimes in the state.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Waheed Ayilara disclosed this while parading the suspect alongside others, at the Command’s Ikot Akpanabia State headquarters, near Uyo.
Ayilara disclosed that the weapons concealed in a private mortuary used as armory were instrumental for kidnapping and killing of several persons in the state.
“Through credible information and a painstaking investigation, our operatives have recovered firearms and ammunition used by a notorious kidnapping syndicate led by a wanted kidnapper, one Ubong Effiong Archibong a.k.a Condiment. The kidnapping syndicate is responsible for the kidnapping and killing of several persons.
“The said firearms were recovered at a private mortuary being used as the armoury at Ekeya, Okobo local government area. The firearms are two AK-47 Rifles, two G3 Rifles, one double barrel rifle, one single barrel rifle, five magazines and seven life ammunitions,” he said.
Also paraded was a 56-year-old woman, identified as Eunice Eze, operating a registered orphanage centre in Imo State, but converted it into a baby factory where her agent lured young girls from Akwa Ibom State and trafficked them to the center.
The victims, he said are impregnated at the facility and the babies sold to willing buyers at prices ranging from N600,000 to N800,000.
“Based on actionable intelligence, one Eunice Eze, 56, was arrested at the World Bank Estate in Owerri, Imo State for running a baby factory. The suspect specilises in stealing babies and pregnant girls through her agent, one Ability Tom. 10 pregnant girls were rescued,” he said.
Also, the CP said one Samuel Edu, a landlord’s son in Essien Udim local government area of the state who was alleged to have raped a female tenant, a serving National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member would soon have his day in court.
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“At about 3:15pm, an NYSC, member residing at Ukana Iba Village in Essien Udim LGA, reported that at about 3:00am, one Paul Samuel Edu, 44 years, (her landlord’s son) came knocking at her door.
“That on opening the door, the said Paul threatened her with a machete, and directed her to follow him to his room for a talk or else he would harm her. On reaching the suspect’s room, he bolted the door, tore her clothes and had carnal knowledge without her consent.
“Suspect was arrested, one matchete and a slaughter knife was recovered from him. Investigation is ongoing,” he stressed.
The CP added that a murder suspect, one Daniel Okon, 23 arrested with an unregistered motorcycle during a routine patrol, confessed to killing a commercial motorcyclist he hired to take him to a secluded destination on the outskirts of Uyo where he seized the motorcycle after hacking his victim to death with a machete, and buried his remains in a shallow grave.
“Operatives of the Command on routine patrol accosted two suspects, one Daniel Okon, 23 years, and Samaila Salisu, 20 years on a motorcycle without identification number along Timber Market Road, Uyo.
“After rigorous interrogation, the rider confessed that on 11/7/2024, at about 9:00pm, he paid a commercial motorcyclist on a ride from Idoro Road to Mbikpong Ikot Edim. That on getting to a lonely area, he hacked the rider to death with a matchete. Thereafter, he buried him in a shallow grave and went away with the motorcycle.
“The decomposed body of the victim later identified as one Saviour Anthony Effiong ‘m’ aged 45yrs has been exhumed and deposited at a morgue,” the CP said.
Hoodlums comprising suspected cultists, arrested during the raids were also paraded as the CP who tasked members of the public to be vigilant and promptly report suspicious characters in their neighborhoods to security agencies for quick intervention.
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