Police Crush Kidnap Plot in Akwa Ibom, Arrest Notorious Gang Leader and Accomplice

 

Picture of police officers in a patrol van

‎The suspects, including a mastermind known by multiple aliases, were captured in a midnight operation after foiled attempts on top businessmen in Eket

‎The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has dealt a major blow to criminal elements in the state after foiling a kidnap attempt in Eket Local Government Area, arresting two suspects linked to several abductions in the region.

‎According to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, the suspects were arrested during a coordinated midnight operation on Friday, August 22, 2025, following weeks of intelligence gathering by operatives. The operation, carried out around 1:00 a.m., led to the capture of Victor Bassey Tom, popularly known as “Igbo Man” and “Mami”, alongside his alleged accomplice, Nelson Samuel, a boat operator.

‎Investigations revealed that Tom, a resident of Uqua Isi Edoho in Esit Eket Local Government Area, is not only the mastermind behind the failed kidnap attempt but also a key figure in previous abductions of prominent businessmen in the Eket axis. Police sources disclosed that he was positively identified by an earlier arrested suspect who fingered him as the gang leader. Tom has since confessed to being part of the group responsible for multiple kidnappings in the area.

‎On the other hand, Samuel, who hails from Okorotip in Ibeno Local Government Area, allegedly provided the crucial transportation that enabled the gang’s operations, ferrying both victims and criminals to remote creek hideouts.

‎Both suspects are currently in custody, as detectives intensify investigations aimed at arresting other members of the kidnapping syndicate who remain at large.

‎Reassuring the public, DSP John reiterated the command’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state. She further called on residents to remain vigilant and continue supporting the police with timely information that could help curb criminal activities.

‎The arrests mark yet another significant success for the Akwa Ibom State Police Command in its ongoing crackdown on criminal networks threatening peace and security within the state.