The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has confirmed the neutralisation of a suspected notorious kidnapper and the recovery of a firearm during a gun duel with a criminal gang in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of the state.
In a statement issued on Monday, 4 August, the Police Command said the operation followed actionable intelligence indicating that a group of kidnappers had returned to Ikot Umiang village, a known hotspot in Mkpat Enin, to plan fresh attacks.
The gang, alleged to have been responsible for a series of high-profile abductions between 2020 and 2023, including the kidnapping of a church founder in 2023, had been on the run for several months.
According to the statement, on Friday, 2 August 2025, at about 4:00 p.m., a surveillance team was dispatched to the village after receiving a tip-off on the suspects’ location. Upon arrival, the suspects opened fire on the operatives, prompting a swift response from the police.
During the exchange, one of the kidnappers, identified as 27-year-old John Ubong Akpan of Ikot Umiang village, was fatally wounded. He was taken to hospital but was confirmed dead by a medical doctor. The remaining suspects managed to escape and are currently at large.
Items recovered from the hideout include a locally made pistol, one live cartridge, and one expended cartridge.
Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, has ordered intensified surveillance and patrol operations in the area to ensure the arrest of the fleeing gang members and to prevent further threats to public safety.
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