Police Arrest Kidnappers Of Akwa Ibom Lawyer And His Niece

Two members of a notorious criminal gang involved in the abduction of a Director of the Ministry of Justice, Emmanuel Ubengama and his niece, have been arrested by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command.

Recall that Ubengama, a lawyer and his niece were abducted on December 4, 2024, along Abak-Ikot-Abasi road.

Operatives of the command stormed the kidnappers' hideout where the victims were discovered tied down inside a purpose-built soakaway facility and promptly rescued them after gunning down three of the suspects.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, disclosed this when he paraded the kidnappers and other suspects during his maiden briefing held at the command's headquarters in Uyo on Monday, January 13, 2025.

“A distress call was received that a Director with the Ministry of Justice, Akwa Ibom State, and his niece (name withheld) were kidnapped by five armed men,” the CP stated.

"Our operatives in the Command immediately swung into action and busted the kidnappers' den in a thick forest located within Ikot Ukpong Village, Abak Local Government.

"A thorough search was conducted within the forest, and the victims were rescued unharmed from an abandoned soak-away. The victim’s car was also recovered by the police along Etinan Road where it had been abandoned.

"Also, the Toyota Sienna vehicle used to kidnap the victims was also recovered while 2 of the suspects were neutralized. Further Investigation led to the arrest of one Ability Etim Samuel ‘m’ (aged 45 years) and one David Vincent Samuel ‘m’ (aged 36 years).

“They are currently being investigated and their leading will lead to making more arrests of their gang members and weapons recovery.”