The Police have rescued kidnapped victim, arrested suspected kidnappers, and recovered sophisticated firearms, ammunition, and millions of Naira in cash in Akwa Ibom and Nasarawa States.
Force Public Relations Officer, DCP. Olumuyiwa Adejobi in a statement issued Sunday said on 16th August 2025, Police operatives attached to Eket Division, Akwa Ibom in synergy with operatives from Ikot Udota Division and youths of Afia Nsit, responded swiftly to a distress call of a suspected kidnapping attempt at Factory Road, Afia Nsit, Eket.
He explained that the prompt response led to the rescue of one Emerson and the arrest of two suspects, namely: Okon Edem Okon and Emmanuel Bassey.
Adejobi noted that further search conducted in an uncompleted building in a nearby bush led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, one assault rifle, 67 rounds of ammunition, one pump-action shotgun with six live cartridges, Six magazines, and a mobile phone, which are all suspected to belong to the hoodlums.
He stressed that efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend other fleeing gang members.
Adejobi added: “Similarly, in Nasarawa State, on 18th August 2025, operatives of Garaku Police Division responded to a lone motor crash involving an Opel Vectra vehicle near the VIO checkpoint at Angwan Mayo community and the Two occupants fled the scene of crime immediately abandoning the vehicle.
“A search conducted on the vehicle led to the recovery of a G3 rifle, which was handed over to the Police. Upon further search of the vehicle at the police station, police operatives recovered one AK-47 rifle, one Type 06 rifle, one G3 rifle, three magazines, 57 rounds of live ammunition, and a total sum of ₦6,908,150.
“Following an intensive manhunt conducted in collaboration with the military, one of the fleeing suspects, Mohammed Tahir of Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, was arrested.
“He confessed to being part of a seven-man kidnap gang responsible for the kidnapping of a lawyer in Nyanya, Abuja, from whom ransom had been collected.”
Adejobi noted that efforts are underway to ensure other fleeing members of the kidnapping gangs are apprehended, and upon conclusion of investigation, all arrested suspects would be charged to court accordingly.