Police detain 3 suspected kidnappers, foil trafficking plot in Akwa Ibom

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has detained three suspects in connection with alleged kidnapping and human trafficking in Nung Oku, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists in Uyo on Tuesday. According to John, police operatives apprehended the suspects at […]

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has detained three suspects in connection with alleged kidnapping and human trafficking in Nung Oku, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists in Uyo on Tuesday.

According to John, police operatives apprehended the suspects at about 10.30pm on September 12, following a tip-off about a suspected human trafficking syndicate operating in the area.

She said the police acted swiftly on the intelligence, leading to the arrest of three suspects, while others fled upon seeing the operatives.

“The victim, whose identity is being withheld, is a native of Igbanki village in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State,” she stated.

“He was allegedly sent by his brother-in-law, a suspected human trafficking ring leader based in Burkina Faso.”

“The victim was instructed to transport several girls from Uyo to Burkina Faso. Upon his arrival in Uyo, the girls directed him to a hotel (name withheld) in Nung Oku, Ibesikpo Asutan, in a mini-bus driven by one of the suspects,” John said. (NAN)

 

According to John, upon arrival at the hotel, the girls and other accomplices reportedly locked the victim in a room and demanded a ransom of N4 million.

John said, “Unable to pay the full amount, he was subjected to severe beatings. The assailants seized his ATM card, forced him to reveal his PIN, and withdrew N111,000 from his account. They then forced him to contact his brother-in-law in Burkina Faso to send the remaining money.” (NAN)