Police Arrest Kidnappers, Recover Arms, N6.9m in A’Ibom, Nasarawa
The Nigeria Police Force has recorded fresh breakthroughs in its crackdown on violent crimes, rescuing a kidnap victim, arresting three suspected kidnappers, and recovering a cache of arms, ammunition, and cash in separate operations in Akwa Ibom and Nasarawa States.
In Akwa Ibom, operatives attached to Eket Division, working with their counterparts from Ikot Udota Division and local youths of Afia Nsit, foiled a kidnapping attempt on August 16, 2025. The swift response to a distress call at Factory Road, Afia Nsit, led to the rescue of one Emerson, who had been targeted by suspected kidnappers. Two suspects, identified as Okon Edem Okon and Emmanuel Bassey, were arrested at the scene.
A search of an uncompleted building in a nearby bush yielded a large cache of weapons, including an AK-47 rifle, one assault rifle, 67 rounds of ammunition, a pump-action shotgun with six live cartridges, six magazines, and a mobile phone. Police said the items are believed to belong to the hoodlums, while efforts are ongoing to track down fleeing gang members.
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Similarly, in Nasarawa State, police operatives on August 18, 2025, recovered a significant arsenal and cash following a lone motor crash involving an Opel Vectra vehicle near the VIO checkpoint at Angwan Mayo community. Two occupants of the vehicle fled the scene, abandoning the car.
On inspection, a G3 rifle was found and handed over to the Police. A more thorough search at the station uncovered additional weapons, including an AK-47 rifle, one Type 06 rifle, another G3 rifle, three magazines, 57 rounds of live ammunition, and a total of ₦6,908,150 in cash.
An intensive manhunt launched in collaboration with the military led to the arrest of one of the fleeing suspects, Mohammed Tahir from Barkin Ladi, Plateau State. According to police, Tahir confessed to being part of a seven-man kidnapping gang behind the abduction of a lawyer in Nyanya, Abuja, for which ransom had been collected. Security operatives are still pursuing the other gang members.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commended the swift action of operatives and the cooperation of community members in both operations. He stressed that the Force remains committed to clamping down on criminal elements and ensuring that kidnappers and their collaborators have no safe haven in the country.
Police authorities confirmed that the arrested suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
By PRNigeria
