The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has recorded a significant breakthrough in its fight against violent crime with the arrest of a notorious kidnap kingpin, Okon Asuquo Udo, who has been linked to multiple high-profile abductions across the state.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Uyo, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Timfon John, confirmed that Udo, a native of Ube village in Okobo Local Government Area, was apprehended in his hometown following months of evading arrest.
According to SP John, the suspect had been on the Command’s wanted list for his alleged involvement in several kidnapping operations, including the abduction of a Paramount Ruler (name withheld) in October 2024 and the kidnapping of the wife of an Executive Chairman (name also withheld) in November 2024.
“Based on credible intelligence, operatives of the Command apprehended the suspect, Okon Asuquo Udo, on August 13, 2025, at approximately 11:00 a.m. in his village, Ube, Okobo LGA,” the statement read.
Further investigations have linked Udo to a wider kidnapping network responsible for multiple abductions across the Oron, Mbo, and Okobo Local Government Areas. He is believed to be a key figure within the syndicate.
SP John added that discreet investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the gang, as well as recover their weapons and other operational tools.
The arrest is seen as a major victory for the Akwa Ibom State Police Command in its sustained effort to dismantle criminal networks and ensure public safety across the state.
