JOE EFFIONG, UYO
A woman in Akwa Ibom State, Imaobong Sampson has been arrested by the police in the state for kidnapping herself for N4 million.
The woman, from Nung Oku in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, was among the 52 suspected criminals whose names and activities were disclosed at the inaugural press conference hosted by the new commissioner of police in the state, Mr Waheed Ayilara.
She ironically, equally fitted into the category of four kidnapped victims also rescued by the police.
The police commissioner said the suspect arranged her kidnap and demanded N4 milion ransom before she and her boyfriend were arrested by operatives of the command.
“On March 11, 2024, at 1000hrs, a report was received from one Enobong Sampson that her sister Imaobong Sampson Francis Sampson was kidnapped and that the kidnappers were demanding for N4 million as ransom.
“As a result, operatives of Anti kidnapping squad of the Command embarked on an intense and intelligence driven operation, so as to trackdown the perpetrators and rescue the victim.
“On March 12, 2024, at about 2315hrs the said purported victim, one Imaobong Sampson and her boyfriend, Beltus Ebong, were arrested in a hideout at Mbierebe Obio, Ibesikpo Asutan LGA.
“She confessed to have conspired with her boyfriend, Beltus and three others to procalim her kidnap to raise money from her aunty, who is based abroad,” Ayilara said.
Command says it has rescued four kidnapped victims including a woman, who fake her own kidnap and arrested 52 other suspects for various vices
Some of the offences committed by the 52 suspects, according to the police, included; murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, child trafficking, cultism and fraud in the last one month.
The CP added that within the period, on March 13, based on intelligence, the operatives of the command arrested one Okon Edet (m) of Uruting village in Okobo LGA for killing his father, Chief Okon Edet aged 75, of the same address by beating him mercilessly machete, leading to his death.
Edet alleged that the late father had sold all the parcel of land he had, including the one that he gave to him to build his house as the reason for his action.
Ayilara further said that on March 8, the operatives of anti robbery squad of the command arrested one Akanimo Akpan of Efa Ayam village in Etinan LGA, who involved in adulterated fruits drink and other products.
He added that also on March 8, at about 1600hrs, one Akan Edet was arrested for using Point Of Sale (POS) to defraud innocent citizens and was to be set ablaze but was rescued by operatives of COMPOL Monitoring Unit.
He added that most of those Akan Edet defrauded have identified him and the sum of N350, 000 cash was recovered from him at the time of arrest.
The commissioner stressed that all the suspects would be charged to Court as soon as investigations were concluded;
and assured the people of Akwa Ibom that he would work with stakeholders to set up strategies to address contemporary security challenges.
“Let me assure Akwa Ibom people that the Command under my watch will collaborate with stakeholders in harnessing available resources to ensure that the State continue to remain the most peaceful,” he said