C’River police confirm kidnap kingpin’s death in custody

The Cross River state police command has confirmed that one of the arrested notorious kidnap suspects, Kingsley Utomobong, who was believed to have terrorised the 8 mile axis of Calabar metropolis for months, has died in its custody.

Utomobong was arrested two weeks ago with some of his gang members a few days after an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Egbe Edum, was hacked to death allegedly by Kingsley and his gang members.

Unconfirmed reports also alleged that the suspect was the brain behind the brutal killing of one Ebenezer, who 8 miles residents described as ‘philanthropist.’

Speaking, the Public Relation Officer of the command, DSP Irene Ugbo, said “Utomobong died as a result of injuries he sustained while he was being arrested,” but did not say whether or not any of his gang members had also passed through similar fate.

Meanwhile, another notorious kidnap suspect, whose name was given simply as Richard, has been picked up by the State security outfit, Operation Akpakwu in Anantigha area of Calabar South local government area.

Sources said Richard was one of the 8 miles kingpins, but that he relocated to Calabar South as a result of severe security searchlights on criminal elements in 8 miles area.

Ugbo said Richard was arrested in Anantigha but did not give details.

Within the past few weeks not less than twenty high profile kidnap suspects had been fished out, but Calabar residents fear that some top politicians of whom some of the suspects were loyal to, could mount pressure on the Police to have them released.