Crime

Four Fake EFCC Officers Arrested for Attempted Kidnapping in Akwa Ibom

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 2nd, 2024.

Four Fake EFCC Officers Arrested for Attempted Kidnapping in Akwa Ibom

By Patrick Odey

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has apprehended four individuals posing as officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). They were allegedly plotting to kidnap a victim, with the intention of demanding a ransom of N150 million.

During a press briefing at the command headquarters in Ikot Akpanabia, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Waheed Ayilara, identified the principal suspect as Emmanuel Akpayak. Akpayak is accused of orchestrating the kidnapping plan to evade repaying a debt of over N12 million owed to the intended victim.

The suspects, named as Emmanuel Augustine Akpayak (27), Echem Ovurizichi Weneka (27), Promise Udofia (28), and Jeremiah Johnson Okon (38), were presented to the public. According to Commissioner Ayilara, Akpayak procured EFCC uniforms and hired armed men to kidnap and eventually kill the victim to avoid settling his debt.

“Investigation revealed that Emmanuel Augustine Akpayak planned the abduction and murder of his creditor by outfitting his accomplices with EFCC vests to carry out the operation,” stated Ayilara. The victim was lured to Akpayak’s residence, where a search revealed four pairs of EFCC vests. The plot was to kidnap the victim, extort N150 million, and subsequently kill him, but the plan was thwarted by the police. The suspects are now set to face trial.

In an interview, Akpayak admitted to owing the victim money from a car sale transaction. He confessed to hiring individuals to intimidate his creditor when attempts to settle the matter amicably failed. He further explained that he acquired EFCC vests online for his accomplices to impersonate officials and coerce the victim into paying N150 million, claiming the victim was wealthy and involved in Internet fraud.

Additionally, the police commissioner displayed other suspects accused of defrauding PoS operators in Uyo. One case involved Glory Uko Okon, who reported that three men – Donald Ita Nyong, Rex Clement Uso, and Kingsley Mathias Joekim – attempted to withdraw N10,000 from her PoS stand. During the transaction, they deceitfully withdrew N320,000 and fled the scene. The suspects have since been arrested and confessed to the crime.