By Ita Williams, Calabar
The Cross River State Police Command has made a significant breakthrough in combating kidnapping activities in the state with the successful arrest of a notorious gang leader known as “Tallest.”
A statement at weekend by the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police, Ugbo Irene on behalf of the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gyogon Augustine Grimah, said the arrest was carried out by the Anti-Cultism and Kidnapping Squad (ACKS) on 5th June 2024, bringing relief to residents of the state.
The apprehension of “Tallest” came after the release of Prophetess Emmanuel Otu, who had been abducted by the gang led by the notorious criminal.
The statement said the victim, a resident of Nyagasang , was kidnapped on 25th May 2024 and later freed on 29th May 2024, thanks to the swift action of the police.
Following credible information, law enforcement officers tracked down and captured “Tallest” in the CUDA environs, the statement said adding that currently in police custody, an investigation is underway to determine the extent of his involvement in other criminal activities, with efforts ongoing to apprehend his accomplices.
In a related incident on the same day, the ACKS responded to a distress call reporting the abduction of a young man, Kingsley Eyo Andem, by a group of hoodlums.
The police team intervened promptly, forcing the abductors to flee and abandon their victim in the Nyagasang creek, where Andem was found with severe injuries inflicted by his captors.
According to the statement, investigations revealed that the kidnapping of Andem was motivated by allegations of his relationship with the gang leader’s girlfriend, identified as ‘Olismam.’
She said “the Cross River State Police Command is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety of all residents”.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, has extended his greetings to Muslim faithful on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir.
He reassured the public of the Command’s dedication to maintaining law and order, urging citizens to cooperate, remain law-abiding, and work towards a peaceful and harmonious Cross River State.
