By SUNDAY BASSEY

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom says it has detained three suspects in connection with alleged kidnapping and human trafficking in Nung Oku, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area(LGA).

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Uyo on Tuesday.

According to John, operatives of the command apprehended the suspects at about 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 12, following a tip-off about a suspected human trafficking syndicate operating in the area.

She said the police acted swiftly on the intelligence, leading to the arrest of three suspects, while others fled on sighting the operatives.

“The victim, whose identity is withheld, is a native of Igbanki Village in Orhionmwon LGA of Edo.

“He was allegedly sent by his brother-in-law, a suspected human trafficking ring leader based in Burkina Faso,” she stated.

“The victim was instructed to transport several girls from Uyo to Burkina Faso.

“Upon his arrival in Uyo, the girls directed him to a hotel (name withheld) in Nung Oku, Ibesikpo Asutan, in a mini-bus driven by one of the suspects,” John said.

According to John, on arrival at the hotel, the girls and other accomplices reportedly locked the victim in a room and demanded a ransom of N4,000,000 million.

John said that, “unable to pay the full amount, he was subjected to severe beatings. The assailants seized his ATM card, forced him to reveal his PIN, and withdrew N111,000 from his account.

“They then forced him to contact his brother-in-law in Burkina Faso to send the remaining money,” John said.

John said that a search of the hotel room led to the recovery of a handbag containing the following items; one International passport, a national identity card, a voter card, six ATM cards from various banks, all bearing the name Utuk Justine.

Other items recovered included; a University of Uyo Town Campus Annex gate pass, 3 button mobile phones, ?2 android phones, ?2 power banks and a mini bus with REG. NO. KTE 867 XA?.

The command’s spokesperson said the suspects were currently in police custody and were providing useful information to aid the investigation.

She said efforts were underway to apprehend other fleeing suspects.

John reiterated the command’s commitment to combating human trafficking and other forms of organised crime in the state. (NAN)