Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested the alleged leader of the gang responsible for the kidnapping and murder of a renowned professor of neurology, Ekanem Philip Ephraim, nearly two years after the incident.
The prime suspect, identified as Patrick Essien Etim, 23, was arrested alongside his accomplice, Bassey Antiha Asuquo, 40, at a medical facility in Cross River State.
According to Daily Trust, a security source disclosed that the arrest followed sustained intelligence-led investigations by the DSS, which had been tracking the activities of the kidnap syndicate since the professor was killed in July 2023.
The source further said the suspects had posed as patients before abducting the professor from her private medical facility in Calabar.
“The DSS had been on the trail of the gang since the unfortunate killing of the professor in 2023,” the source said.
Investigations revealed that the suspects collected multiple ransom payments from the victim’s family but still went ahead to kill her.
The duo reportedly confessed to the crime during interrogation, admitting their involvement in the abduction and murder of the professor.
A DSS source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the arrest had brought relief to the victim’s family after years of uncertainty.
“It has been two years of torment for her loved ones, not knowing what happened to the professor. I believe that, with this arrest, her family and loved ones will be able to finally have some peace and the much-needed closure that they deserve,” the source said.
The suspects also reportedly admitted to other criminal activities, including the kidnapping of additional victims and the vandalisation of electricity cables in parts of the state.
Another suspect, Isaac Ekpeyong, was also arrested in connection with the crimes, according to security sources.
Recall that Professor Ephraim was abducted on July 13, 2023, by armed men who disguised themselves as patients at her private clinic located along Atimbo Road, Calabar.
Her abduction sparked outrage across Cross River State, particularly within the medical community.
Following her disappearance, the Nigeria Medical Association, Cross River State chapter, staged statewide protests and embarked on an indefinite strike to pressure the government and security agencies to secure her release.
The industrial action crippled healthcare services in the state for over one week, as doctors withdrew their services in solidarity with their abducted colleague.
Security sources said the suspects would be arraigned after the conclusion of investigations, as efforts continue to dismantle the remaining members of the criminal network.
