Akwa Ibom: Police arrest fake EFCC officers over attempted kidnapping

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said it has arrested four fake Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officers who were planning to abduct and collect a ransom of N150 million from their victim.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Waheed Ayilara said the suspects include Emmanuel Augustine Akpayak, 27, Echem Ovurizichi Weneka, 27, Promise Udofia, 28, and Jeremiah Johnson Okon, 38.

He said the principal suspect, Emmanuel Akpayak masterminded the kidnap of the would-be-victim whom he owe over N12 million.

According to him, “Investigation revealed that Emmaneul Augustine Akpayak had arranged for the kidnap and killing of the would-be victim by engaging men on arms and procuring EFCC vest/uniform for the Operation.

“Victim was invited and a search was conducted at the principal suspect’s house where four pairs of EFCC vest were recovered.

“Information at hand indicates that the suspect transacted business of selling cars with the would-be victim and owed the victim about Twelve Million Naira (N12,000,000.00), inorder to evade the repayment of debt, the suspect hired armed men to kidnap, extort the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N150,000,000.00) and also kill the victim thereafter but the Operation was foiled.”

In an interview, Akpayak claimed that the intending victim was his bussiness associate whom he owe some money.

According to him, the victim hired “boys” that were issuing threats to him.

He noted that attempts to make his associate to come to a round table discussions failed hence he resorted to getting EFCC vest from an online vendor and gave to his gang members who posed as officials of the anti-graft agency to arrest the man and force him to bring N150 million as ransom.