Two arrested after attempted kidnapping of three children

Two suspected child traffickers have been arrested after residents and security operatives stopped the attempted kidnapping of three children in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The incident happened on Wednesday evening on the Ekparakwa, Ekpene Ukpa Road in Ikot Ekpaw, a community that has seen recent kidnapping cases.

The police confirmed the event in a statement, saying that three children were saved and two suspects were caught.

The father of two of the victims, Itoro Ekpoudo, told PREMIUM TIMES that his seven-year-old and three-year-old sons were on their way home from an evening lesson around 7 p.m. when they were approached by people in a minibus.

According to him, the suspects tried to trick the children by saying their father sent them.

"My son told me the men came out of the vehicle and said, 'Your daddy asked us to come and take you home.'

"But my son told them his daddy had travelled to Uyo and began questioning them.

"He asked them, 'If you know my daddy, is he short or tall?' and one of them replied that his daddy was tall," Mr Ekpoudo said.

The father said this made the boy suspicious.

He explained that the seven-year-old quickly held his younger brother and tried to run away, but one of the suspects grabbed the three-year-old and pulled him into the vehicle.

The older child then shouted for help, which brought shop owners and passersby to the scene.

"At that point, the kidnappers drove off with my younger son. But because people had already been alerted, they later stopped and pushed him out of the vehicle before speeding away," Mr Ekpoudo said.

The fleeing suspects were chased by commercial motorcyclists and other residents to a police checkpoint in Ekparakwa, where they were arrested.

Videos on social media showed angry youths demanding that the suspects be handed over to them. The mob later set the suspects' vehicle on fire.

After the rescue, Mr Ekpoudo went on Facebook to thank the residents and youths who helped his son.

"One of the three suspected kidnappers dragged my two sons, Emmanuel and Ubongabasi, on their way back from evening lesson at Ikot Ekpaw in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area to their minibus.

"But thank God my son raised an alarm and good neighbours came out to save them. Right now, two of them are at the Mkpat Enin Divisional Police Station.

"Many thanks to the Mkpat Enin and Oruk Anam youths. May God bless and reward you all.

"Thank you, Jesus," he wrote.

He also posted a photo of one of the suspects on social media.

In a statement on Thursday, the police spokesperson in the state, Timfon John, said operatives rescued three abducted children and arrested two suspected child traffickers after a call from a concerned resident.

Ms John said detectives quickly moved in while blocking entry and exit routes in the area.

"During the intensive search, operatives stopped a minibus with registration number 830 PH. A thorough search of the vehicle led to the discovery of the three missing children inside the bus.

"The children were rescued unharmed, while two suspects were arrested on the spot," the police spokesperson said.

The suspects were named as Emmanuel Johnny, 39, from Ikot Itokpo Village in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, who lives in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Ifiok Umoh, 28, from Ikot Ikpene Village in Oruk Anam Local Government Area.

The police said the children have been reunited with their families, while the suspects are still in custody.

This latest incident took place along the Ekparakwa, Ekpene Ukpa route, an area that has been known for kidnapping activities for years.

In August 2025, police killed a suspected kidnapper, John Akpan, during a shootout in Ikot Umiang, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area. Police said the gang had terrorised residents from 2020 to 2023 and was linked to many high-profile abductions.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that in February 2022, gunmen invaded a cottage hospital in Ikot Ekpaw and kidnapped a doctor, Felix Ekpo.

Two months later, televangelist John Okoriko, founder of Solid Rock Kingdom Church, was kidnapped in Mkpat Enin, while Catholic priest Alphonsus Eboh was abducted in the same area in May 2022.

A large ransom was reportedly paid before the victims were released.

The same area also saw the kidnapping and later killing of PDP chieftain Sylvester Ntefre in May 2022, while broadcaster Malcahy Ufot died shortly after being freed by kidnappers in October 2023.

In March 2024, a liquor distributor who was kidnapped in Ekparakwa reportedly died in captivity.

Though security operations and community watchfulness had greatly reduced such cases in recent years, Wednesday's attempted child abduction has raised fears among residents about the actions of criminal gangs in the area.