Akwa Ibom state Police Command said it has arrested a fleeing inmate of Owerri Correctional Centre, David Ubong.
Ubong, a native of Ibaka in Mbo local government area of Akwa Ibom dtate, was said to have been arrested on Tuesday, April 4, 2021, by the personnel of Ikot Udotan division following a credible intelligence.
According to a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon, obtained by Blueprint on Friday in Uyo, the suspect confessed being one of the escapees from the Nigerian Correctional Service in the recent jailbreak in Owerri, the Imo state capital on Monday, April 5, 2021.
The statement read in part, “On 6/4/2021, personnel of Ikot Udota Division, relying on credible intelligence, apprehended one David Victor Ubong of Ibaka, Mbo L.G.A.
“Suspect confessed to being one of the inmates who escaped from the Nigerian Correctional Service in the recent jailbreak at Owerri, Imo State on 5/4/2021. Until his conviction, the suspect was a resident of Obinze in Owerri, Imo State. The suspect will be sent back to face his jail term.”
According to the statement, the Police also arrested three suspected kidnappers in connection with the abduction of one Blessing Ekpo, an indigene of Ukana Ikot Akpantea Village in Essien Udim local government area of the state.
Mrs Ekpo, who resides in the Molyko-Buea community, Republic of Cameroon, was abducted on Thursday, March 18, 2021, by armed Sea Pirates on her way to Oron LGA of Akwa Ibom State.
The statement revealed that the sum of N1,250,000 was recovered from her abductors who included one Ezekiel Ogbodiye, John Benimo from Bayelsa State and Christian Bassey from Akwa Ibom State respectively.
“On 18th March 2021 at about 10am, one Blessing Gift Ekpo, 30yrs old of Ukana Ikot Akpantea village, Essien Udim L.G.A, a resident of Molyko-Buea, Republic of Cameroon was kidnapped on her way to Oron by Armed Sea Pirates.
“A painstaking investigation led to the arrest of one Ezekiel Ogbodiye, 33yrs of age, of Asamabiri village, Salga in Yenagoa, who collected the ransom, John Benimo 40yrs of age, of Okubebie, Salga, both in Bayelsa State, and Christian Basse 21yrs of age of Ibiono Ibom L.G.A, a resident of Akpan Ikang Itak Edak fishing port, Oron L.G.A, who was the ransom negotiator. The sum of one million, two hundred and fifty thousand naira (N1, 250,000.00) was recovered from them. Suspects will be charged to court,” the statement said.
The statement further quoted the Commissioner of Police, Andrew Amiengheme, as saying that successes have been recorded in Essien Udim LGA after the clearance operation conducted by the military.
The Commissioner said the mop up security operation was still going on in the affected and advised residents to remain calm and be security conscious.
