Some kidnap suspects arrested in connection with the botched kidnap attempt of a member of the Akwa-Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr Usoro Samuel Akpanusoh, have explained why they attempted to kidnap the lawmaker.
It will be recalled that the suspects had in November 2021 stormed a Traditional Marriage ceremony in Uquo community, Esit Eket Local Government Area of the state to kidnap the lawmaker who represents Esit Eket/Ibeno constituency at the state Assembly.
But the kidnappers, who announced their presence at the ceremony with sporadic gunshots that killed two persons and injured several others, were unable to whisk the lawmaker away as he escaped from their grip in his car.
But five months after the incident, some members of the kidnapping gang were arrested recently by men of the state police command where they confessed to the crime and explained why they attampted to kidnap the lawmaker.
According to the Vanguard, the suspects identified as Emmanuel Okon Johnny, Effiong Okon and Kingsley Emmanuel, during their confession said that they intended to kidnap the lawmaker in order to get a reasonable amount before the elections.
They disclosed their respective roles in the botched kidnap attempt, regretting however, that killing was not part of it.
Twenty-nine -year-old Jonny, who claimed to be a member of the Youth Association in the Uquo community, said his role was to monitor the visiting lawmaker .
The father of one told the newspaper that: “As an active member of the Youth Association, the honourable is well known to us and he knows me too.
One Uyime, a notorious kidnapper sold the idea to kidnap the lawmaker to me.
“I agreed to join him and members of his gang for the operation because when the campaign for election will start, the lawmaker would come to distribute peanuts to us , to convince us to vote for him.
But after the election, he would forget us and face his family.
“Youths in the community have never benefited from him , and he has not done anything meaningful for the community.
The only people who got employment were his immediate family members and kinsmen.
“I was instructed to monitor him and inform the gang on when to strike.
So, when I got information that he would be attending a traditional wedding in our community on November 4,2021, I alerted Uyim.
The arrangement was to abduct him when he would be leaving.
“I joined the youths that were cheering him and he offered us little money for drinks.
When I was sure he was about to leave, I contacted Uyime and two other members of the gang who were on standby.
“As he was about to enter his car, they launched the attack.
Unfortunately for us, he acted smart as if he was aware of the game plan.
Unfortunately, two members of our youth association were shot dead,” he explained.
He added that: “Uyime and three members of his gang escaped with their AK 47 rifles , while I joined other youths to scout for the invaders”
“I don’t know how the Police got information of my involvement.
I have been assisting them to look for Uyime and other fleeing members but they are nowhere to be found.
”Had the kidnap been successful, I would have established a business as I expected to get at least N5 million as my share of the ransom.
“I accepted the offer to join the gang because the politician involved is very rich but the plan was never to kill anyone.
I don’t know why Uyime fired into the crowd,” he further said.
