By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
The Police in Akwa Ibom has said it would soon handover the 20 Ghanaians suspected to have been hypotonized but rescued from a house in Uyo last month to the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS..
This is even as it has arrested 63 suspects for various criminal offences in the last one month in various parts of the state.
State Police Commissioner Baba Azare told a press conference in Uyo yesterday that some suspects have been arrested in connection to the rescued Ghanaians while the NIS would’ continue with further investigation on the matter.
Azare said the 63 suspects were engaged in armed robbery, kidnapping, burglary and cultism while their arrest was not only testament of the professionalism of Officers, but also collaborative efforts of residents of the state.
Among the suspects the commissioner said were a group of kidnappers who had returned to the Mkpat Enin Local Council area of the state.
“The gang, which had been terrorizing residents from 2020 to 2023, was also allegedly responsible for the kidnap of a church founder in 2023. The suspects had been at large since that incident.
“On August 2, 2025, at approximately 4:00 PM, the police received a report that the suspects were at a hideout in Ikot Umiang village, planning further kidnappings. A surveillance team was immediately dispatched to the location. Upon the team’s arrival, the criminals engaged them by firing shots. Fortunately, no police personnel was injured in the exchange.
“In a swift response, operatives neutralized one of the kidnappers, later identified as John Ubong Akpan, a 27-year-old male from Ikot Umiang village. The other gang members fled the scene. A locally made pistol, one live cartridge, and one expanded cartridge were recovered at the hideout.
“Akpan, who sustained bullet injuries, was taken to a hospital where he was confirmed dead by a Medical Doctor.’ Azare explained.
The command also arrested members of a car theft syndicate, five personsforrape where operatives recovered disturbing items from what appeared to be a shrine, including two coffins filled with women’s sanitary pads, pictures of people, and other fetish items.
The command also arrested a fake medical doctor who paraded himself as an ophthalmologist for allegedly administering a mixture of unapproved substances to hundreds of people in Ikot Akpan Itam, Ikot Abasi Itam, and Nung Ikot Itam in Itu LGA.
“On Thursday, August 14, 2025, at approximately 12:05 PM, Operatives of the Command received a tip from a concerned citizen regarding a man who was reportedly treating eye defects with unapproved substances. The suspect, identified as Gabriel Gideon from Nsit Ubium, was apprehended.
“Gideon confessed to not being a qualified ophthalmologist. He allegedly assembled over 300 people in each village, charging them ₦500 to administer a concoction of olive oil, juice, and water as a cure for various eye conditions. Suspect will have his day in Court.” Azare said.
