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The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has announced the arrest of 45-year-old Ability Etim Samuel and 36-year-old David Vincent Samuel for their alleged involvement in the abduction of a director from the Ministry of Justice and his niece.

In his maiden press briefing at the command headquarters in Ikot Akpan-Abia, Uyo, on Monday, the Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, stated that operatives from the Special Weapons and Tactics, SWAT, team, acting on intelligence, uncovered the kidnappers’ den in Ikot Ukpong village, Abak Local Government Area. The victims, who were kept in an abandoned soakaway, were rescued, and two suspects were neutralised during the operation.

The tactical team, led by CSP Kokoete Ebong, arrested two suspects during further investigations and recovered the victim’s car, which had been abandoned along Etinan Road, as well as the Toyota Sienna vehicle used in the kidnapping.

The commissioner’s statement read in part: “You may recall that in December 2024, a distress call was received reporting the kidnapping of a director with the Ministry of Justice, Akwa Ibom State, and his niece (name withheld) by five armed men. Our operatives immediately swung into action and located the kidnappers’ den in a dense forest within Ikot Ukpong village, Abak Local Government Area.

“A thorough search was conducted within the forest, and the victims were rescued unharmed from an abandoned soakaway. The victim’s car was recovered along Etinan Road, where it had been abandoned. Additionally, the Toyota Sienna vehicle used in the kidnapping was recovered, while two suspects were neutralised. Further investigation led to the arrest of Ability Etim Samuel, 45, and David Vincent Samuel, 36. They are currently under investigation to identify more members of their gang and recover their weapons.”

The rescued victim, speaking to journalists shortly after the press conference, recounted how he was blocked at a road bump in Etinan, had his car window smashed with a hammer, and was blindfolded before being taken to an unknown forest, later identified as being in Abak Local Government Area.

He expressed gratitude to CSP Ebong, the rescue team, and the police command for their swift response and professionalism, which ensured his and his niece’s safe return from the kidnappers’ den.

Additionally, the command paraded six suspects for alleged sodomy. The suspects include Okwudili Levi Okeke (aka Eze), 34; Idara Itam Daniel, 23; David Udoh James, 23; Udofia Edem Udosen, 29; David Bassey Bassey, 26; and Daniel Jacob Edet, 30.

The commissioner disclosed that the arrests followed information received from a journalist on 8 January 2025, reporting that a 13-year-old boy had been repeatedly raped by four different men over three years. Investigations revealed that one of the suspects, Okwudili Okeke, had been recruited into sodomy and had engaged in anal sex with several men in the state.

Commissioner of Police Azare assured the public that all suspects would be charged to court upon the completion of investigations. He vowed to intensify efforts to clamp down on criminals in the state and urged the public to provide useful information to help tackle crime and criminality.