Kidnappers Gang, Other Suspects Arrested In Cross River
Godwin AJOM, Calabar
The Cross River State police command has made a successful arrest of a notorious kidnap kingpin Godswill Emmanuel, popularly known as Emperor and three members of his gang who allegedly shot Prof Ben Ayade’s Security Adviser, Ani Esin in 2018.
A covert operation carried out by a tactical unit of the police (anti kidnapping and cultism squad) led by Abdulhameed Awodi made the breakthrough when they caught Emperor and the others at a Hotel in Akamkpa LGA of the state.
Security sources said Emperor had been declared wanted by Cross River state government and the state police command, after the gang attacked and shot the Esin at his residence.
“The tactical Unit of AKCS acting on credible intelligence extended surveillance, and swooped into Opitex guest house located at Camp 29 in Anigeje in Akampka.
“It was at the hotel they arrested Emmanuel Godswill, a.k a Emperor, a notorious kidnapper, armed robber who has been on the Command and State government’s wanted list for Shooting the ex- Security Adviser to Gov Ayade and also kidnapped Mrs Veronica wife of an immigration officer, as well as robbed Mr Ikechukwu Nzie at Mary Slessor avenue dispossessing him of his car (Toyota Corolla, 2005 model) amongst others valuables.
“Emperor was arrested alongside his second in command Denis Onyekachi, a.k.a Jagaban and his Chief Striker,Edet Okon ,the trio have confessed to various crimes including the kidnap incident in 2018, 2019 and so on,” security source revealed.
Meanwhile, efforts are on-going to arrest other members who are at large as well as recover their operational weapons and more.
Similarly, another kidnapper who has been terrorizing Akpabuyo, Odukpani and other parts of the state and has been on the state’s wanted list was also apprehended by a tactical unit of AKCS in conjunction with Operation Akpakwu.
While on a man hunt at 8th Miles, in the outskirts of Calabar for the abductors of the owner of UDEC phones plaza who was kidnapped in Calabar last Tuesday in his business centre, the team nabbed one Henry Okoko. He was arrested after attacking another family in their home while setting their house ablaze.
A source who pleaded anonymity told our reporter that they vandalized the roof of their victims house before kidnapping them.
Confirming the arrest, the Cross River State Commissioner of Police , Aminu Alhassan, said his men were battle ready for criminals in the state.
“We are not making noise about our achievements but this is a sound warning to all those involved in sundry crime in the state , we will continue to smoke you out by the day
“We have never relented in our quest to sanitize every part of the state, it is either you stay away from crime while in Cross River or you leave because this place will be too hot for you to operate , leave now that you can or face the consequences as well as the full wrath of the law , “The CP warned.
