Nigerian Army troops in Ibagwa, Abak local government area of Akwa Ibom State have burnt the homes of two suspected cult leaders who specialise in kidnapping unsuspecting members of the public for ransom.
The incident, it was gathered, took place at Ikot Abasi Akpan village, in Mkpat Enin local government area, when the troops stormed and set ablaze the two buildings.
The fleeing kidnappers allegedly used the houses as their hideouts to abduct their victims, while negotiating for ransom.
“It was discovered that these criminals had abducted a businessman, a principal dealer in beer and other beverages at Ekparakwa junction in the neighbouring Oruk Anam LGA.
“In the process of negotiation the businessman became unconscious because of heavy torture and was released, but suddenly he died of serious ill treatment, and that forced military intervention,” a resident, who sought anonymity said.
Amongst the homes razed, he added, belonged to one Paulinus Cyril and another man, who are parents to the wanted leaders of the kidnap ring, that are also terrorising the adjoining communities of Ekpuk, Nyaodiong, and Ndon Utim, in the neighbouring Etinan LGA.
A woman, who trades on mango and other fruits from the villages to Uyo, was said to have been rescued by the troops, after being accosted for robbery by the hoodlums on motorcycles yesterday morning, while the whereabouts of one Mr. Moses Eshiet, the vice principal, Community Secondary School (CSS), Nya-Odiong, from Etim Ekpo LGA, is yet to be ascertained after being ambushed by the gang.
The outgoing police public relations officer, CSP Odiko MacDon, promised to get details from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), assuring that the Commissioner of Police (CP), Waheed Ayilara, would leave no stone unturned in returning normalcy to the troubled areas.
He, therefore, appealed to the residents to always volunteer intelligence to security agents on suspicious characters in their neighbourhoods for quick response to crimes in the affected areas.
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