Four fake EFCC operatives arrested by Police officers
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command apprehended four individuals posing as operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly plotting to kidnap a target.
Commissioner of Police Waheed Ayilara, who presented the suspects alongside others yesterday, revealed their intention to abduct and demand a ransom of One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N150 million) from their unnamed victim.
According to Ayilara, the suspects are Emmanuel Augustine Akpayak, 27 years old; Echem Ovurizichi Weneka, 27 years old; Promise Udofia, 28 years old; and Jeremiah Johnson Okon, 38 years old.
He further explained that Emmanuel Akpayak, the main suspect, orchestrated the attempted kidnapping of the victim, owing him over 12 million Naira, as part of an extortion scheme.
The plan also included a threat to harm the victim to evade repayment of the debt.
He said:, “Investigation revealed that Emmaneul Augustine Akpayak had arranged for the kidnap and killing of the would-be victim by engaging men on arms and procuring EFCC vest/uniform for the Operation.
“Victim was invited and a search was conducted at the principal suspect’s house where four pairs of EFCC vest were recovered. Information at hand indicates that the suspect transacted business of selling cars with the would-be victim and owed the victim about Twelve Million Naira (N12,000,000.00), inorder to evade the repayment of debt, the suspect hired armed men to kidnap, extort the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N150,000,000.00) and also kill the victim thereafter but the Operation was foiled.”
During an interview with the main suspect, Emmanuel Akpayak, he asserted that the individual targeted was his business partner who owed him money.
According to Akpayak, the victim had allegedly employed individuals to threaten him. He stated that his attempts to resolve the matter through negotiation were unsuccessful, prompting him to procure EFCC vests from an online seller.
These vests were intended for his accomplices, who posed as officials to apprehend the man and coerce him into paying a ransom of 150 million Naira.
In addition, the Commissioner also presented suspected advance fee fraudsters who had been defrauding POS operators in Uyo metropolis and its outskirts.
The statement partly reads: “On 21/06/2024 at about 7:00pm, one Glory Uko Okon ‘f’ of Afaha Ikot Obio Nkan Village, Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, called in through the emergency hotline and alleged that one Donald Ita Nyong ‘m’, Rex Clement Uso ‘m’ and one Kingsley Mathias Joekim POS syndicates came to her POS stand at Udo Udoma Avenue Uyo, pretended to make withdrawal of N10,000 and while she made the withdrawal to the suspects, one of the suspect gave her N3,200 to deposit into an opay account which she tried three times and the transaction was unsuccessful, the suspects mounted pressure on her which made her to give out the POS machine to the suspect’s to type in the account number and before she could realize.
“The suspects had withdrawn the sum of N320,000.00 from her machine and quickly jumped into their waiting car and zoomed off. Suspects were arrested, they all made useful statements and have confessed to the crime.”
The Commissioner of Police also unveiled child trafficking syndicates, revealing that based on intelligence, the command had apprehended Michael Emmanuel Edet, Ability Henry Tom, and Uwem Udoh Moses from their hideouts along Ibesikpo and Aka Etinan Road. They were caught for the abduction of a 12-year-old boy (identity withheld) who was selling groundnuts along Oron Road and taken to Ovum Community in Obingwa L.G.A, Abia State.
According to the Commissioner, the child was sold for Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N400,000) to Loveth Nkwankwo of Ovum Community, Obingwa L.G.A. Further investigation led to the arrest of Loveth Nkwankwo in Abia State. The suspects confessed to the crime and pledged to assist in capturing other fugitive members of their syndicate. The victim, along with others, was successfully rescued.
Ayilara emphasised that all suspects would face prosecution upon completion of investigations. He urged the people of Akwa Ibom to continue providing the Police with valuable information to combat crime and criminals in the state.
The Commissioner expressed gratitude to Governor Umo Eno for his substantial support to the police force, affirming his commitment to leave no stone unturned in ensuring security and peace across the state.
