A 27-year-old suspected kidnapper, John Ubong Akpan, was shot dead during a gun battle with police operatives in Ikot Umiang village, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The state police command disclosed the incident in a statement issued on Monday in Uyo by its spokesperson, ASP Timfon John.
According to the statement, Akpan was fatally wounded during a confrontation with officers, while other members of the criminal gang managed to escape into the surrounding bush.
The command said it had received intelligence on August 2 at about 4:00 p.m. indicating that the gang was regrouping at a hideout in Ikot Umiang to plan further kidnapping operations.
A surveillance team was immediately deployed to the location.
“Upon arrival, the suspects opened fire on the operatives, prompting a swift exchange of gunfire. No police personnel were injured. One suspect, later identified as John Ubong Akpan, was neutralised, while others fled,” the statement said.
Items recovered from the scene included a locally made pistol, one live cartridge, and one expended cartridge.
The suspect was taken to a hospital but was confirmed dead by medical personnel.
The police noted that the gang had been on the radar of security operatives for years and was believed to be responsible for a series of abductions between 2020 and 2023, including the kidnapping of a church founder in 2023.
In response to the incident, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, has ordered intensified surveillance and patrol operations in the area to track down the fleeing suspects and dismantle the gang’s network.
The command reassured residents of its commitment to combating violent crime and urged the public to provide credible information that could assist ongoing investigations.