A late-night attack has shaken Oboetim Village in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, after armed men abducted a local supermarket owner and demanded a ₦30 million ransom for his release.
The victim, 35-year-old Enobong Akaninyene Okon, was reportedly taken from his business premises around 9:40 p.m. on February 10, 2026. According to accounts given to the police, the attackers arrived in an unregistered vehicle, stormed the supermarket, and forced Okon away to an unknown location.
His wife, Victoria Enobong Akaninyene, raised the alarm less than an hour later, reporting the incident at the Nsit Ibom Police Division at about 10:30 p.m. She told officers that the gunmen overpowered them at the shop and fled with her husband.
Beyond the abduction, the assailants allegedly stole the couple’s Moniepoint POS machine and later used it to withdraw about ₦1.9 million, deepening the family’s distress.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama disclosed that the kidnappers subsequently contacted the family via a GSM line, insisting on a ₦30 million ransom as a condition for Okon’s release.
Police Response
Following the report, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, ordered the immediate deployment of tactical teams to the area. Security sources confirmed that discreet investigations and tracking efforts are underway to locate the kidnappers and rescue the victim safely.
The incident has sparked fear among residents of Oboetim Village, many of whom say the abduction highlights growing insecurity in the area. Community members are calling for increased patrols, surveillance, and rapid-response policing to prevent similar attacks.
As of the time of filing this report, the Akwa Ibom Police Command had not released further details on the operation, but investigations are ongoing.
Residents with useful information have been urged to cooperate with security agencies as efforts continue to secure the victim’s freedom and bring those responsible to justice.
Source: Africa Publicity
