The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has apprehended four individuals posing as Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officers, who planned to abduct a victim and demand a ransom of N150 million. Commissioner of Police, CP Waheed Ayilara, revealed that the suspects - Emmanuel Augustine Akpayak, Echem Ovurizichi Weneka, Promise Udofia, and Jeremiah Johnson Okon - were led by Akpayak, who masterminded the plot to evade repaying a debt of N12 million to the intended victim.
According to Ayilara, "Investigations showed that Akpayak arranged the kidnap and planned to kill the victim by hiring armed men and procuring EFCC vests. Four EFCC vests were recovered from his residence." Akpayak claimed that the victim was a business associate whom he owed money, but the associate had hired "boys" to threaten him. He admitted to purchasing EFCC vests online and giving them to his gang members to pose as EFCC officials and extort the ransom.
The police commissioner explained that the suspects' plan was to kidnap the victim, demand the ransom, and then kill him. However, their operation was foiled when the police were alerted, and they were arrested. Ayilara noted that the police are working to ensure that all those involved in the crime are brought to justice.
In a related development, the police also paraded suspected advance fee fraudsters who targeted POS operators in Uyo. Glory Uko Okon reported that Donald Ita Nyong, Rex Clement Uso, and Kingsley Mathias Joekim pretended to make a withdrawal, then forced her to give them her POS machine, which they used to withdraw N320,000. The suspects confessed to the crime, revealing that they had been operating in the area for months, swindling unsuspecting POS operators.