Operatives of the Nigerian Police Force have apprehended a 10-man gang suspected of plotting to kidnap Chinese expatriates working for the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC).
Acting on a tip from local intelligence, the tactical police squad stormed two hideouts located within forests along the Ibiono Ibom axis of the Ikot Ekpene federal highway in the early hours of Friday.
According to reports, the kidnappers had been using these forests as their base of operations for months, preparing for their planned abduction.
Ubong Etim, the youth leader of the area, confirmed the arrests and revealed that the kidnappers intended to target Chinese expatriates involved in the ongoing reconstruction of the Calabar-Itu highway. The construction project, overseen by CCECC, Julius Berger, and other indigenous companies, is located on the Ibiono Ibom/Ikono axis of the highway.
A source within the police force, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that “the police were able to successfully raid the forests after days of monitoring and surveillance on the community.” He added that “the criminals were overpowered in a gun battle, which lasted for hours.”
Four AK-47 rifles, several locally made pistols, and objects suspected to be charms were recovered from the suspects. They have since been transferred to the state headquarters in Ikot Akpanabia, near Uyo, for further interrogation and prosecution.
