Operatives from the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have taken out Ubong Effiong Archibong, also known as “Condiment,” a well-known kidnapping mastermind and commander of the Bling Bling Marine Strike Force.
This was revealed by the Command’s public relations officer, ASP Timfon John, in a statement titled “Notorious Kidnap Kingpin/Sea Pirate Meets Waterloo” that was released on Thursday in Uyo, the state capital.
She said that a G3 rifle and ammunition were found on the suspect after he was shot and killed by Command personnel at his hiding place in Uyanga Community, Cross River State.
The statement claims that the suspect killed Inspector ThankGod Edet, the police orderly, and abducted Joy Unwana, the High Court Judge, last year.
The horrific assassination of Emem and Sons Nig. Ltd.’s CEO and the abduction of his sales representative and pharmacist Joemel are two more kidnapping cases connected to the deceased suspect.
The statement read, “The Akwa Ibom State Police Command, on Wednesday, 28th August 2024, neutralised a dreaded kidnap kingpin/sea pirate whose stock-in-trade was to kidnap, kill, maim, and cause havoc in society.
“The kingpin, Ubong Effiong Archibong (M), alias ‘Condiment,’ a gang leader of the Bling Bling Marine Strike Force terrorising the Uruan/Oron waterways, was responsible for the kidnapping of High Court Judge, Joy Unwana, and the killing of her police orderly, Inspector ThankGod Edet, as well as the gruesome murder of the CEO of Emem and Sons Nig. Ltd. and the kidnapping of his sales representative.
“The suspect was also responsible for the kidnapping of Pharmacist Joemel, as well as the kidnapping of Mr Brown, CEO of Mingles Hotel.
“The suspect was neutralised during a gun battle with operatives of the Command at his hideout in Uyanga Community, Cross River State.
“One G3 rifle with four live rounds of ammunition was recovered from the suspect. The corpse of the suspect was recovered and deposited at the morgue. Investigations with the full intent to arrest other members of the gang are ongoing.”
