The Akwa Ibom State Police Command on Friday shot dead three suspected notorious kidnappers and rescued abducted foreign national in the state.
The kidnappers were killed police when the police stormed their hideout to rescue the foreign national, Gassan Naser, of Zenith Construction Company, who was kidnapped last month at Mbiaya Uruan, in Uruan local government area of the state.
The hoodlums had also killed a police sergeant, Mohammed Sarba of 26 Police Mobile Force, on special duty to Zone 6.
The State police public relations officer (PPRO), DSP Odiko MacDon said that three suspects who attempted to escape during the rescue operations and were gunned down.
McDon said the hoodlums responsible for the kidnap had been involved in high profile kidnappings/murders in the state over the years, including the kidnapping of the former director of NYSC, Gen. Edet Akpan (rtd), the killing of Edidem Robert James Obot,the late paramount ruler of Nsit Ubium, the killing of Dr. Udosen of St. Luke’s Hospital, Anua, among other heinous crimes.
The rescued expatriate said he was happy to regain his freedom after several days in the hands of his abductors.
“I was kidnapped at Mbiaya, Uruan on April 30, and a security officer with me was shot dead before they took me away in a Jeep,” Naser said.
MacDon who paraded the dead suspects added that they were also involved in a lot of robberies around Uyo and Calabar.
The PPRO further stated that outside from the three notorious kidnappers that were shot dead, a ferocious criminal, Eneffiong Michael Akpan known in the underworld as Character was also killed during a gun duel with the police.
According to him, Character has been on the police watch list for alleged armed robberies.
He said when the police stormed his den: “On sighting the operatives, he engaged them in a gun duel, but he was gunned down. One locally made pistol, one live cartridge, and an expended cartridge were recovered from him.
