Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command recorded a major milestone in their crime-fighting efforts with the arrest of a wanted kidnap kingpin, Okon Asuquo Udo, linked to several high-profile kidnapping cases in the state.

The command?s Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, in a statement released in Uyo on Sunday, said the suspect, who hailed from Ube village in Okobo Local Government Area, was arrested in his home village after being on the run for several months.

John, who disclosed that the suspect had been on the command?s wanted list over alleged involvement in multiple kidnap incidents, said investigations have revealed that he was a principal suspect in the kidnap of a Paramount Ruler (name withheld) in October 2024 and the wife of an Executive Chairman (name withheld) in November 2024.

According to her, the suspect is also believed to have been a participant in several other kidnapping activities across the Oron, Mbo, and Okobo Local Government Areas.

The statement reads,? The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has successfully arrested a key suspect linked to several high-profile kidnapping cases in the state.

?Following credible intelligence on August 13, 2025, at approximately 1100 hours, Operatives of the Command apprehended the suspect, one Okon Asuquo Udo, a male resident of Ube village in Okobo Local Government Area. Udo had been on the Command?s wanted list for his alleged involvement in multiple kidnap incidents.

?Investigations reveal that Udo is a principal suspect in the kidnap of a Paramount Ruler (name withheld) in October 2024 and the wife of an Executive Chairman (name withheld) in November 2024.

?He is also believed to have been a participant in several other kidnapping activities across the Oron, Mbo, and Okobo Local Government Areas.

?The suspect was sighted and arrested in his home village of Ube, Okobo LGA, after being on the run for several months.?

The command?s spokesperson said discreet investigations are currently ongoing to apprehend other members of his gang and recover their operational weapons. (Sunday PUNCH)

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