Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), Akwa Ibom State Command, at the weekend said they have smashed a kidnap syndicate and apprehended four suspects in the raid.
A senior DSS official who disclosed this to journalists in Uyo, the state capital, attributed the breakthrough to what he described as “the anti-crime disposition of the new state director, Dr Doyin Adetuberu, since his assumption of office in January.”
He listed the suspects to include Idris Abdullahi, Attah Ekong, Itoro Edet Effiong and Nsisong Edet Effiong.
“The quartet are part of a notorious syndicate which has been terrorising the state and masterminded several kidnap incidents in recent times, particularly the abduction of Ayo Bambe, the manager of Me Lounge, at Osongama Estate, Uyo and two others on January 27, 2024.
“Investigation by the command led to the arrest of Abdullahi, the driver of the syndicate, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State along with a Toyota Sienna vehicle used in the operation, on February 16,2024.
“Ekong was apprehended at Otua Sega community in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State on February 26, 2024, while the duo of Itoro and Nsisong, two siblings, were arrested at their residence at Mbak Etoi, in Uyo LGA, on February 28, 2024.
“During investigation, the four suspects confessed their involvement in the kidnap of the three victims at Me-Lounge, and other attacks across the state.
“Consequently, the arraignment of the suspects by the Command at the Federal High Court Uyo has commenced while a manhunt for other fleeing members is still ongoing,” he stated.
