By Abasi Ita
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnap kingpin and cultist, Ubong Michael, during a raid on his hideout in Ikot Aka village, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area.
The operation also led to the recovery of a decomposing human body and other incriminating items.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Uyo, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, said the suspect had been on the command’s wanted list for a long time.
She explained that Michael, also known as “Ubong Boy,” had been hiding in Port Harcourt but was tracked and arrested after intelligence revealed he had secretly returned to his community.
According to the statement, the arrest was carried out on April 22, 2026, at about 5 pm following credible intelligence.
The police spokesperson said the suspect is linked to several kidnapping operations, including the abduction of victims identified as Gabriel in 2023 and John in 2025.
Items recovered from the suspect include a human skull believed to belong to a victim, human bones, two live cartridges, and a dagger.
John added that the suspect has confessed to his involvement in the crimes and is currently assisting investigators with information that could lead to the arrest of other members of the gang and the recovery of more weapons.
The command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the crackdown on violent crimes and criminal networks across the state.