Authorities from the Akwa Ibom Police Command have taken into custody Imaobong Sampson, a self-kidnap suspect, and Beltus Ebong, her boyfriend, in Mbierebe Obio village, Ibesikpo Asutan Area of the state.
Odiko Macdon, the state police command’s spokesperson, made this revelation on Monday.
After someone posing as a relative reported the kidnapping case last Monday, Macdon said that the suspects were apprehended in their hideout by members of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad.
“On November 3, 2024, at approximately 10:00 a.m., Enobong Sampson ‘F’ of Nung Oku Village in Ibesikpo Asutan L.G.A. reported that her sister, Imaobong Francis Sampson, had been abducted and that the abductors were requesting a ransom of four million naira.”
In order to find the offenders and save the victim, members of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad launched a thorough, intelligence-driven investigation. The claimed victim, Imaobong Sampson “M,” and her lover, Beltus Ebong “M,” were taken into custody on December 3, 2024, at approximately 23:15 hours, from their hiding place in Mbierebe Obio Village, Ibesikpo Asutan L.G.A., he added.
According to Macdon, Imaobong, the suspect, admitted that her syndicate fabricated the kidnapping in order to get money from her aunt.
He added, “She confessed to having planned to announce her kidnapping in order to raise money from her aunty who is based abroad. She conspired with her boyfriend, one Beltus Ebong ‘M,’ Dominic Friday Charlie ‘M,’ her sister, Enobong Sampson ‘F,’ and Inyene Ime Akpan.
It was earlier revealed that Olumide Openaike, an employee of Kemta Oloko, a microfinance bank, was taken into custody by the Ogun State Police command. He had been reported missing and had staged his kidnapping over a N1.7 million debt, he was discovered in Mokwa, Niger State.
