DSS arrests suspects linked to professor’s abduction and murder
Operatives of the Department of State Services have arrested two suspects connected to the abduction and killing of neurology professor Ekanem Philip-Ephraim in Cross River State. Philip-Ephraim was abducted on July 13, 2023, at her office in Calabar and later killed by her captors. The suspects, Patrick Essien Etim and Bassey Antiha Asuquo, were apprehended at a medical facility while allegedly planning another kidnapping. The arrests mark a significant breakthrough for the DSS in tackling criminal networks in the region.
What happened
- Ekanem Philip-Ephraim was abducted on July 13, 2023, by kidnappers disguised as patients at her clinic in Calabar.
- The suspects, Patrick Essien Etim (23) and Bassey Antiha Asuquo (40), were arrested on December 27 at a medical facility in Cross River State.
- The duo confessed to kidnapping and killing the professor after collecting ransom payments from her family.
- Another suspect, Isaac Ekpeyong, was also arrested by DSS operatives.
- The DSS stated that these arrests highlight their commitment to disrupting criminal networks and enhancing public safety.
