- Macdon said the suspects were nabbed in their hideout in Mbierebe Obio village, Ibesikpo Asutan Area of the state by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad
One Imaobong Sampson, and her boyfriend, Beltus Ebong have been apprehended for staging their own abduction, the police in Akwa Ibom state have said.
The duo were arrested after someone who identified herself as a relative reported that they were kidnapped last week Monday.
The spokesperson for the state police command, Odiko Macdon, made the disclosure on Monday.
Macdon said the suspects were nabbed in their hideout in Mbierebe Obio village, Ibesikpo Asutan Area of the state by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad
“On 11/3/2024 at about 10:00hrs, a report was received from one Enobong Sampson ‘F’ of Nung Oku Village in Ibesikpo Asutan L.G.A that her sister, one Imaobong Francis Sampson, was kidnapped and that the kidnappers were demanding for a ransom of four million naira.
“As a result, operatives of Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the command embarked on an intense and intelligence-driven investigation so as to track down the perpetrators and rescue the victim. On 12/3/2024 at about 23:15hrs, the said purported victim, one Imaobong Sampson ‘M’, and her boyfriend, Beltus Ebong ‘M’, were arrested in their hideout at Mbierebe Obio Village, Ibesikpo Asutan L.G.A,” he stated.
Macdon said the suspect, Imaobong, confessed that the kidnap was staged between her and her syndicate for the purpose of extorting money from her aunt.
“She confessed to having conspired with her boyfriend, one Beltus Ebong ‘M’, Dominic Friday Charlie ‘M’, her sister, Enobong Sampson ‘F’, and Inyene Ime Akpan now at large to proclaim her kidnap in order to raise money from her aunty who is based abroad,” he concluded.