Ten kidnappers have been arrested by the Police operatives after they raided forests in Akwa Ibom State.
Acting on intelligence, the Police swooped on a forest in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and arrested no fewer than 10 suspected kidnappers who laid in wait to ambush Chinese expatriates.
It was gathered that the Chinese working for the China Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC, were to be kidnapped by the criminals who have already perfected their plans.
The construction firm’s site is located on the Ibiono Ibom/Ikono axis of the Calabar-Itu highway, currently undergoing reconstruction by CCECC, Julius Berger, and other indigenous companies.
The Youth leader of the area, Comrade Ubong Etim who confirmed the arrest, said the kidnappers were arrested in the early hours of Friday by the tactical police squad after they stormed the two forests along the Ibiono Ibom axis of the Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Federal highway.
He explained that kidnappers have been using the forests as their hideout where they negotiate for ransom after abducting some persons.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of Akwa Ibom State Police Command has was yet to issue a statement as at the time of filing this report.
Speaking under anonymity, a senior Police Officer, said, they have intelligence report and started monitoring and carrying out surveillance on the communities and the forests for days before swooping on them.
He said the kidnappers are well armed and exchange gun duel with Police before they were overpowered.
“The criminals were overpowered in a gun battle, which lasted for hours.”
He disclosed that four AK-47 rifles, some locally made pistols, and objects suspected to be charms were recovered from the suspects. They have been transferred to the state headquarters at Ikot Akpanabia, near Uyo, “for interrogation and prosecution.”
“Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed that they have been in the area for months now, preparing the hideout, which also serves as their shrine. They also confessed that they were targeting the Chinese expatriates working for CECC, a construction firm handling the reconstruction of one of the phases of the Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Federal highway,”
