Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested four suspected fake Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officers while planning to abduct and collect a N150 million ransom from their victim (name withheld).
Parading the suspects alongside others at the command headquarters in Ikot Akpanabia, Uyo, the state capital, on Monday, Commissioner of Police Waheed Ayilara revealed that the principal suspect, Emmanuel Akpayak, masterminded the kidnapping scheme.
Akpayak owed the would-be victim over N12 million and sought to extort money from him and subsequently kill him to evade repayment of his debt.
The suspects were identified as Emmanuel Augustine Akpayak, 27; Echem Ovurizichi Weneka, 27; Promise Udofia, 28; and Jeremiah Johnson Okon, 38.
According to CP Ayilara, “Investigation revealed that Emmanuel Augustine Akpayak had arranged for the kidnap and killing of the would-be victim by engaging armed men and procuring EFCC vests for the operation.”
CP Ayilara detailed the operation, noting that the victim was invited and a search conducted at Akpayak’s residence led to the recovery of four pairs of EFCC vests.
“Akpayak, who was involved in the business of selling cars with the victim, owed him about N12 million. To evade repayment, Akpayak hired armed men to kidnap the victim, extort N150 million from him, and then kill him. The police foiled the operation, and the suspects will face charges in court,” he said.
In an interview, Akpayak claimed that the intended victim was a business associate to whom he owed money. He admitted hiring individuals to issue threats when attempts to discuss the debt amicably failed.
Akpayak procured an EFCC vest from an online vendor for his accomplices to pose as officials, arrest the victim, and force him to pay N150 million, alleging that the victim was wealthy and involved in internet fraud.
Additionally, the police paraded suspected advance fee fraudsters who had been swindling POS operators in Uyo.
CP Ayilara reported an incident involving one Glory Uko Okon, whose POS machine was used to fraudulently withdraw N320,000 by a syndicate posing as customers.
Furthermore, the police apprehended members of a child trafficking syndicate. Acting on intelligence, they arrested Michael Emmanuel Edet, Ability Henry Tom, and Uwem Udoh Moses for stealing a 12-year-old boy hawking groundnuts.
The boy was sold for N400,000 to Loveth Nkwankwo in Abia State. Nkwankwo was arrested, and the boy was rescued.
CP Ayilara emphasized the commitment of the police to ensuring security and peace in the state.
He urged citizens to provide the police with useful information to help eradicate crime and criminal elements in Akwa Ibom.
All suspects will be charged in court following the completion of investigations.