Akwa Ibom Police Nab 3 Suspects In Failed Human Trafficking Bid

Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command person smashed an planetary quality trafficking ringing specialising successful transporting young girls from the State to immoderate West African countries, particularly Burkina Faso.

Spokesperson of the Command, DSP Timfon John, told Journalists astatine the Command’s office successful Uyo, connected Tuesday, that the operatives swooped connected the suspects successful a edifice astir Nnung Oku country of Ibesikpo Asutan section authorities country of the State.

“On September 12, 2025, astatine astir 10:30 pm, operatives of the Command arrested 3 suspects successful transportation with a kidnapping and quality trafficking case. The cognition was launched pursuing a tip-off astir a quality trafficking syndicate operating successful the area.”

Timfon narrated that 1 of the suspects, (name withheld) a autochthonal of Igbanke Village successful Orionhwho section authorities country of Edo State, was allegedly sent by his brother-in-law, a suspected quality trafficking ringing person based successful Burkina Faso to transport respective girls from Uyo to the neighbouring country.

The State Command’s spokesperson further explained that upon his accomplishment successful Uyo, the girls directed the fishy to the unnamed edifice successful a mini-bus driven by 1 of them.

“On accomplishment astatine the hotel, the girls and different accomplices reportedly locked him successful a country and demanded a ransom of N4 million. Unable to wage the afloat amount, helium was subjected to terrible beatings.

“They seized his ATM card, forced him to uncover his PIN codification and withdrew the sum of N111,000 from his account.

“They past forced him to interaction his brother-in-law astatine Burkina Faso to nonstop the remaining money,” John said.

She added that acting connected the intelligence, Police operatives swiftly moved successful and arrested 3 suspects identified arsenic Iniobong David, 45 years; Edikan Samuel, 23 years and Joseph Jonah Akpan, 27years.

“Other suspects fled the country upon the accomplishment of the Police,” she said.

According to DSP John, a hunt of the edifice country led to the betterment of immoderate incriminating items including a handbag containing 1 planetary passport, a nationalist individuality card, 1 voter’s card, six ATM cards from assorted banks, each bearing the sanction Utuk Unyime Justine.

She listed different recovered items to see a University of Uyo (UNIUYO) Town Campus Annex gross pass, 3 fastener mobile phones, 2 Android phones, 2 powerfulness banks and a mini autobus with REG. NO. KTE 867 XA.

The Police spokesperson added that the suspects were presently successful Police custody providing utile accusation to assistance the investigation, portion assuring that efforts were ongoing to apprehend different fleeing suspects.