Niger Delta

LG Boss, Others Killed In Kidnap Rescue Attempt

Published

13 years ago

October 9, 2013

A former Chairman of Ikot
Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Usen Ekene, a police corporal, and two kidnappers have died in a security operation to rescue Ekene.
Ekene had been kidnapped by gunmen who demanded N50 million ransom from his family before he could be freed.
He was abducted three weeks ago at Nyara Enyin Ntonguno, a village in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area.
A source said that when the villagers uncovered the kidnappers’ den, they informed the police, who mobilised to free Ekene.
The Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, DSP Etim Dickson, confirmed the incident in Uyo yesterday.
Dickson said that Ekene, a police corporal and two assailants died in the process.
He said that a member of the joint patrol team sustained serious injury.
Dickson said: “It is a big blow to the force.
“You see, these are some of the things we suffer during rescue operations.
“Rescuing people in a joint operation is not all that simple.
“The story is true.
“One of our police operatives died and an officer from the joint patrol team sustained serious injury in the process.
“Two corpses of the kidnappers had been picked up.
“The kidnappers had the boldness to fire at the police first.
“The police shot back at them, killed their two colleagues.
“It was unfortunate that we were unable to rescue Ekene.
“But what I am not sure is whether Ekene died in the process of gun battle.
“What I am told is that Ekene was an old man.
“He was kidnapped for three weeks.
“Keeping him in that forest, the man might have developed some symptoms, which might lead to his exhaustion.
“I understand from friends that they were demanding N50 million, which was too high.
“We got to know this through calls to some friends.
“The man died before he could be rushed to the hospital.”
Meanwhile, gunmen suspected to be armed robbers yesterday killed three policemen in Lagos.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Umar Manko, who confirmed the development in an interview newsmen said that the policemen were shot from behind while in a moving patrol vehicle.
Manko said that the suspects, three of whom were dressed in caftan, took advantage of a down pour to hit the policemen who were on legitimate duty around the Ijora-Olopa area of Lagos.
The commissioner said that five policemen were in the vehicle when the suspects, who were on motorcycle, attacked them.
Manko said that three of the policemen died on the spot while the fourth sustained injuries with the driver, escaping unhurt.
The commissioner, however, said that he could not immediately give details on how the incident happened because he was yet to be briefed.
He said the policemen were attached to the Area ‘C’ Police Command in Surulere, adding that investigation had commenced with a view to fishing out the suspects.

Niger Delta

850-bed UCTH overstretched, services 5m patients – CMD

Published

1 day ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, has said the 850-bed hospital is overstretched, as it currently serves over five million patients.

He disclosed this on Friday during a media tour of the facility to showcase ongoing renovations and facelift in the hospital.

The CMD noted that, aside being the only tertiary healthcare facility servicing the state, UCTH also serviced neighbouring states of Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi.

He said the hospital also received referrals from neighbouring countries, including Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Central African Republic.

According to him, the 850-bed hospital faced persistent space constraints because of increasing patients inflow and expanding healthcare demands.

“This hospital currently operates 62 clinical and non-clinical departments as well as between 30 and 38 wards covering medical, surgical, paediatric, orthopaedic and specialised services.

“Most wards have undergone facelift, remodelling, or complete renovation to improve patient care and working conditions for healthcare professionals”, he said.

He disclosed that the hospital was constructing a new 106-bed emergency medicine facility to address the rising demand for healthcare services.

According to him, the facility will include trauma bays, intensive care units, neonatal wards, and three fully equipped trauma theatres.

Speaking on the remodeled wards, Ikpeme explained that they followed modern nursing principles, allowing one nurse to attend to a maximum of 10 patients.

He said relatives would be restricted to designated waiting areas to reduce interference with medical procedures and improve emergency response efficiency.

The CMD noted that the hospital had strengthened specialist services in orthopaedics, neurosurgery, obstetrics, radiology, and minimally invasive surgery.

“UCTH now performs hip and knee replacements, arthroscopy, sports medicine, and complex brain tumour surgeries.

“Our surgeons also conduct keyhole procedures for appendectomy, hysterectomy and other conditions with faster patient recovery periods,” he said

In power, the CMD said the hospital relied on solar power from a seven-megawatt plant, constructed by the Federal Government at the University of Calabar, as well as public power supply, and generators to sustain its operations.

He appealed to governments, organisations, and philanthropists to support infrastructure expansion, equipment procurement, and specialised healthcare projects.

The CMD said the hospital required additional incubators, ward expansions, and a stand-alone amenity facility for private healthcare services.

He used the opportunity to dismiss allegations of ethnic discrimination, insisting that the hospital does not reject workers or patients based on tribe or origin.

According to him, the institution recently honoured an Igbo pioneer physician by naming a ward after him in recognition of decades of service.

The CMD said the hospital maintained strict disciplinary procedures to address negligence, poor attitude, and unethical conduct among staff.

The Tide’s source reports that some of the units visited include, intensive care unit, Department of Radiology, Urology Clinic, and Opthalmology Clinic.

Niger Delta

Police Burst Child Trafficking Syndicate In A’Ibom … Nab 3 Suspects

Published

1 day ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State says it has busted a child trafficking syndicate and arrested three suspects for conspiracy and unlawful sale of a newborn baby in the State.

The State’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Timfom John, who disclosed this in a statement in Uyo on Friday, said the three female suspects were arrested on Wednesday at about 1900hrs.

She said a complainant reported that his wife gave birth to a baby boy on May 7 and shockingly, shortly after delivery sold the newborn child to one of the suspects for N145, 000.

“Upon receipt of the report, operatives immediately swung into action, leading to the arrest of the suspects and the successful recovery of the baby boy.

“The suspects reportedly confessed to the crime during interrogation, while investigation has been expanded to identify and apprehend all individuals connected to the trafficking syndicate”, John said.

She said the State’s Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, reiterated the Command’s commitment to sustaining aggressive intelligence-led policing in the state.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Launches Operation Crack Down Scrap Dealers

Published

1 day ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa-Ibom State Government has launched a statewide crackdown on unregistered scrap dealers and scavengers, shutting down illegal operations and arresting operators accused of violating environmental and public safety regulations.

The enforcement operation, led by the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), followed the implementation of the state’s Waste Metal Scrap Law 2026, officials said.

AKSEPWMA Chairman, Obong Prince Ikim, said the exercise was aimed at regulating the scrap sector, protect the environment, and prevent criminal groups from operating under the guise of waste collection and metal trading.

“If you want to do scrap business, you must register,” Mr. Ikim said during the operation in Uyo, the state capital.

“Many people now hide under scrap trading to perpetrate nefarious activities”, he said.

According to him, dump site operators and scrap dealers who failed to register with the government risked closure and prosecution.

Authorities accused some operators of involvement in vandalism of public infrastructure and indiscriminate waste disposal, adding that investigations had uncovered criminal activities linked to several dump sites across the state.

“Some people vandalise government facilities in the name of scrap business and encourage indiscriminate dumping of refuse,” Mr. Ikim said.

He added that the state government and security agencies would continue efforts to enforce compliance and maintain public order.

“The Commissioner of Police has zero tolerance for criminality, and the Governor wants Akwa Ibom people to sleep with their eyes closed. We will fish out every defaulter”, he said.

Police officials involved in the operation said investigations showed that some criminal suspects used scrap yards and refuse dump sites as cover for illegal activities.

CSP Okwuzulike Vincent of the Itam Police Station said some suspects pretended to be mentally unstable while hiding ammunition and other suspicious items in makeshift shelters around dump locations.

The police officer praised the environmental agency for what he described as proactive efforts to sanitise the sector and pledged continued cooperation between law enforcement and the agency.

Officials said some first-time offenders arrested during the operation were released after profiling and signing undertakings, while repeat offenders would face prosecution.