IMAOBONG SAMPSON FRANCIS: AKWA IBOM WOMAN CONNIVE WITH BOYFRIEND TO FAKE OWN KIDNAP 

Police in Akwa Ibom state have arrested a woman, Imaobong Sampson Francis of Nung Oku village, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, for faking own kidnap for a N4Million ransom, Vanguard Newspaper reports.

The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom Command, CP Waheed Ayilara, who disclosed this in Uyo, Friday, said the command also rescued three kidnap victims with 52 suspects arrested for offences including murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, child trafficking, cultism and fraud in the last one month.

Ayilara narrated that, “On March 11, at 1000hrs, a report was received from one Enobong Sampson that her sister, Imaobong Sampson, was kidnapped, the kidnappers demanding N4 million as ransom.”

“As a result, operatives of the Anti Kidnap Squad of the Command embarked on intense, intelligence driven operation, to trackdown the perpetrators and rescue the victim.”

“March 12, 2024, at about 23:15hrs the purported victim, Imaobong Sampson and her boyfriend, Beltus Ebong, were arrested in a hideout at Mbierebe Obio, Ibesikpo Asutan LGA.”

“She confessed to have conspired with her boyfriend, Beltus and three others to procalim her kidnap to raise money from her aunty, who is based abroad.”

The CP added that on March 13, operatives of the Command arrested one Okon Edet (m) of Uruting village, Okobo LGA for killing his father, Chief Okon Edet, aged 75, of same address by beating him mercilessly with machete, leading to his death.

The murder suspect had alleged that the late father sold all parcels of land he had, including the one he gave to him to build his house as the motive for his action.

Ayilara further said on March 8, operatives of Anti Robbery Squad of the Command arrested one Akanimo Akpan of Efa Ayam village in Etinan LGA for involvement in adulterated fruits drink and other products.

In other operations, March 8, at about 1600hrs, one Akan Edet was arrested for using Point Of Sale (POS) to defraud innocent citizens and was to be set ablaze by a mob when operatives of COMPOL Monitoring Unit rescued him.

Ayilara alleged most victims Edet had defrauded have identified him and a cash of N350,000 recovered from him at the time of arrest.

Assuring all arrested suspects would be charged to Court when investigations were concluded, CP Ayilara reassured that, “The Command under my watch will collaborate with stakeholders in harnessing available resources to ensure that the State continue to remain the most peaceful.”