A 27-year-old suspected kidnapper, John Ubong Akpan, was fatally shot by operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command during a gun duel in Ikot Umiang village, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area.
According to a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, the incident occurred on August 2, 2025, following an intelligence report indicating that a known criminal gang was regrouping to plan further abductions.
The police dispatched a surveillance team to the hideout at around 4:00 p.m. Upon sighting the operatives, the suspects opened fire, prompting a swift response from the team. Akpan was shot during the exchange and later confirmed dead at the hospital. Other members of the gang escaped into the nearby bush.
Recovered from the scene were a locally made pistol, one live cartridge, and one expanded cartridge. No police personnel were injured in the operation.
The police revealed that the gang had previously terrorized the area between 2020 and 2023 and was linked to the 2023 abduction of a church founder. Since that incident, the suspects had been on the run.
Commissioner of Police Baba Azare has since ordered intensified patrols and surveillance to apprehend the fleeing gang members and ensure the continued safety of residents.
