The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced the successful rescue of a kidnapped victim identified as Emerson and the arrest of two suspects, Okon Edem Okon and Emmanuel Bassey in Akwa Ibom State.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, noting that the operation led to the recovery of various arms and ammunition, among other items.
“In Akwa Ibom State, on 16th August 2025, Police operatives attached to Eket Division, in synergy with operatives from Ikot Udota Division and youths of Afia Nsit, responded swiftly to a distress call of a suspected kidnapping attempt at Factory Road, Afia Nsit, Eket. The prompt response led to the rescue of one Emerson and the arrest of two suspects, namely one Okon Edem Okon and Emmanuel Bassey.
“Further search conducted in an uncompleted building in a nearby bush led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, one assault rifle, 67 rounds of ammunition, one pump-action shotgun with six live cartridges, six magazines, and a mobile phone, which are all suspected to belong to the hoodlums. Efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend other fleeing gang members,” the statement noted.
In a related development in Nasarawa State, operatives of Garaku Police Division on August 18, 2025, responded to a lone motor crash involving an Opel Vectra vehicle near the VIO checkpoint at Angwan Mayo community.
DCP Adejobi revealed that the two occupants fled the scene immediately, abandoning the vehicle.
“A search conducted on the vehicle led to the recovery of G3 rifle, which was handed over to the Police. Upon further search of the vehicle at the police station, police operatives recovered one AK-47 rifle, one Type 06 rifle, one G3 rifle, three magazines, 57 rounds of live ammunition, and a total sum of ₦6,908,150 (Six Million, Nine Hundred and Eight Thousand, One Hundred and Fifty Naira only).
“Following an intensive manhunt conducted in collaboration with the military, one of the fleeing suspects, Mohammed Tahir of Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, was arrested. He confessed to being part of a seven-man kidnap gang responsible for the kidnapping of a lawyer in Nyanya, Abuja, from whom ransom had been collected,” he stated.
The spokesperson affirmed that efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining members of the gang, emphasising that all arrested suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
He added that the consecutive successes reinforce the renewed commitment of the NPF under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, to clamp down on criminal elements threatening public safety and security across the country.
Commenting on the breakthroughs, IGP Egbetokun commended the swift action of the operatives, the synergy with community members, and the vigilance of patriotic citizens whose timely information proved crucial.
He assured the public that the Force will not relent in its efforts to ensure criminals have no safe haven in Nigeria.
