Police arrest three suspected kidnappers in Cross River, rescue victim

The Cross River Police Command today announced that it arrested three suspected kidnappers in connection with the kidnapping of a medical doctor in the state.

Irene Ukpo, the Police Public Relations Officer, who made this known said the police in an operation on Tuesday morning rescued Dr Edmund Akpaikpe who was kidnapped on Sunday in Bakassi Local Government Area of the state.

Irene told the press that Dr Edmund was rescued by the Anti-Kidnapping and Cultism Squad (Dragon) of the command, and that the police was still on the trail of two other members of the five-man gang who escaped during the rescue operation.

“The spate of kidnapping in the country is saddening, especially now that we are coming to the end of the year.

“A lot of criminally minded individuals now use the excuse of trying to meet up to get into various crime including kidnapping.

“We want to use this opportunity to warn criminally minded individuals to either leave the state or be law abiding.

“We have resolved to go after anyone who is involved in crime with brutal force and we will not treat any kidnapper with kid gloves,” she said.

Ugbo commended the Commander of the Squad, SP Abdulhameed Awodi and his men, and other units of the command for carrying out the orders of the Commissioner of Police, Mr Aminu Alhassan, to the letter in rescuing the victim.

“We laud the Dragon Squad for their dexterity because they are giving their all in making sure Cross River residents go about their lawful activities with ease.

“We are also appealing to the public, especially those living within the creeks, not to keep quiet whenever they see suspicious movement or see a face that is not known in their vicinity.

“They should always keep us abreast of such because it makes our job easier,” she said.