February 14, (THEWILL) — Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have rescued a kidnapped supermarket customer less than 24 hours after he was abducted in a brazen late-night attack in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area.
The victim, whose name was withheld for security reasons, was freed unharmed following what authorities described as “sustained, intelligence-driven tactical operations” across multiple locations in the state.
The abduction occurred at about 9:40 p.m. on February 10, 2026, when armed men driving an unregistered vehicle stormed a supermarket in Obotim Village, Nsit Ibom LGA, and whisked the man away to an unknown destination.
The gunmen later contacted the victim’s family, demanding a ransom of ₦30 million. In addition to the kidnapping, the assailants reportedly seized a Moniepoint Point-of-Sale (POS) machine from the premises and fraudulently withdrew ₦1.9 million.
Police authorities said the swift rescue was carried out in strict compliance with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, who ordered immediate action to secure the victim’s safe return.
Tactical teams were promptly deployed, leveraging rapid intelligence gathering, coordinated inter-unit collaboration and strategic operational assets. The breakthrough, police said, reflects the Command’s zero-tolerance stance against kidnapping and other violent crimes.
The rescued victim has since been taken to a medical facility for evaluation and is reported to be in stable condition.
Meanwhile, the Command has intensified efforts to apprehend the perpetrators. Authorities confirmed that a full-scale manhunt is underway, with all operational assets activated to track down and prosecute those responsible.
Commending the bravery and professionalism of the officers involved, the Commissioner reassured residents of Akwa Ibom State of the police’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property.
He also warned criminal elements that there would be no safe haven for them anywhere within the state.
The Command urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible information to support ongoing security operations, reaffirming its resolve to sustain peace and security across the state.
