Gunmen kidnap supermarket owner in Akwa Ibom, demand N30m ransom

Gunmen have abducted a 35-year-old supermarket owner, Mr Enobong Akaninyene Okon, from his business premises in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom. 

The victim was taken at about 9:40 p.m. on February 10, 2026, at Oboetim Village, Nsit Ibom LGA, by unknown armed men who arrived in an unregistered vehicle. 

His wife, Mrs Victoria Enobong Akaninyene, reported at the Nsit Ibom Police Division at about 10:30 p.m. that the attackers stormed their supermarket, seized her husband and whisked him away to an unknown destination. 

According to the security analyst Zagazola Makama, the abductors later contacted the family through a GSM line and demanded a ransom of N30 million for the victim’s release. 

The hoodlums also allegedly carted away the couple’s Moniepoint POS machine and used it to withdraw the sum of N1.9 million before fleeing the area. 

On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, deployed tactical teams to the area to ensure the victim’s safe rescue. 

A security source said discreet investigation had commenced to track down the suspects and bring them to justice. 

Residents of Oboetim Village expressed fear over the incident, calling on security agencies to intensify patrols and surveillance to curb the cases of kidnapping in the area. 

Efforts to get further updates from the police command were ongoing as of the time of filing this report.