Operatives of Akwa Ibom Police Command, have arrested a lady identified as Imaobong Sampson in Mbierebe Obio Village, Ibesikpo Asutan Area of the state.
Sampson was nabbed alongside her boyfriend, Beltus Ebong for faking her kidnap.
Disclosing the suspects’ arrest, the spokesperson for the state police command, Odiko Macdon stated that they were all nabbed in their hideout by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad after the case of kidnapping was reported by someone who identified herself as a relative last week Monday.
“On March 11, 2024, at about 10:00 am, a report was received from one Enobong Sampson ‘F’ of Nung Oku Village in Ibesikpo Asutan L.G.A that her sister, one Imaobong Francis Sampson, was kidnapped and that the kidnappers were demanding for a ransom of four million naira.
“As a result, operatives of Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the command embarked on an intense and intelligence-driven investigation to track down the perpetrators and rescue the victim. On March 12, 2024 at about 11:15 pm, the said purported victim, one Imaobong Sampson ‘M’, and her boyfriend, Beltus Ebong ‘M’, were arrested in their hideout at Mbierebe Obio Village, Ibesikpo Asutan L.G.A,” the statement quoted the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) as saying.
Macdon said the suspect, Imaobong, confessed that the kidnap was staged between her and her syndicate to extort money from her aunt.
“She confessed to having conspired with her boyfriend, one Beltus Ebong ‘M’, Dominic Friday Charlie ‘M’, her sister, Enobong Sampson ‘F’, and Inyene Ime Akpan now at large, to proclaim her kidnap to raise money from her aunty who is based abroad,” he concluded.
The lovers’ arrest follows the nabbing of one Olumide Openaike, a staff member of a Microfinance Bank, Kemta Oloko, who was reported missing. It was later discovered that he staged his abduction over a debt.