IG Squad Arrests Youth Leader, Four Others for Killing, Kidnapping in Akwa Ibom

Okon Bassey in Uyo

Security operatives in Akwa Ibom State have arrested a youth leader and four members of his group for alleged kidnapping and murder in the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Odiko Macdon, paraded the youth leader, Eddy Etim Onuka, and other suspects at the state Police headquarters at Ikot Akpana-Abia, Uyo, at the weekend.

He said the suspects were arrested by the operatives of the Inspector General of Police (IG) Tactical Team in the state, with the suspects confessing using AK-47 rifles during the operations.

The PPRO explained that Onuka, a native of Oron LGA of the state and the youth leader of the Rice Miller Association, Oron, allegedly masterminded the two kidnap incidents recorded in the area.

One of the incidents, Macdon said, involved one Emmanuel, whom they shot dead while trying to resist them, and another incident was that of one Aniekan, whom they succeeded in collecting over N20 million from him.

Macdon said: “This is a clear case of kidnapping, and it is a very unfortunate one. They went to abduct one Emmanuel, who sells engine parts, and when they got there, the man resisted the kidnap and they shot him, they and some other members of the gang are at large now, but Eddy Onuka here was their leader is here. By the grace of God, the Special Tactical Team of the IG moved in and effected arrest. This was the first incident.

“In the second incident, the same Onuka let members of the same kidnapping syndicate to abduct one Aniekan and successfully collected over N20 million from him as ransom.

“He (Onuka) got N1.2 million which he used in buying another car. His vehicle was used in committing the crime. They confessed to the fact that they used AK-47 in that particular operation” the image maker of the state Police Command said.

Explaining further, MacDon said all the suspects played different roles in the kidnapping of theirs victim.

According to him, “One of them, his account was used in collecting the ransom to the tune of N1.2million while the other person formed surveillance, giving them information about the deceased-when he went out and came

In, and this underscores the need why Akwa Ibom people at every point in time need to be conscious of security, because some of these people who are closed to them.

“Another suspect here collected phone number of the wife of the deceased and called her demanding a ransom again and threatening her, and later demanded N3.2million or he was going to deal with her. That made the woman to be apprehensive, and ran to the police, who consequently arrested the criminals,” he stated.