DSS Nab Gang Leader Behind Brutal Abduction And Murder Of Calabar Professor

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have apprehended the alleged mastermind behind the abduction and murder of renowned neurology professor, Ekanem Philip Ephraim, nearly two years after the tragic incident.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The prime suspect, 23-year-old Patrick Essien Etim, was arrested alongside his accomplice, 40-year-old Bassey Antiha Asuquo, at a medical facility in Cross River State.

According to Daily Trust, a security source revealed that the arrest was the result of intelligence-led investigations by the DSS, which had been monitoring the gang’s activities since Professor Ephraim was killed in July 2023.

The suspects reportedly posed as patients before abducting the professor from her private medical facility in Calabar.

“The DSS has been tracking this gang since the professor’s unfortunate death in 2023,” the source said.

Investigations also revealed that the suspects had collected multiple ransom payments from the victim’s family but proceeded to murder her nonetheless. During interrogation, the duo allegedly confessed to their roles in the abduction and killing.

A DSS official, speaking anonymously, noted that the arrests bring relief to the professor’s family after years of uncertainty.

“For two years, her loved ones endured torment, not knowing her fate. This arrest should finally give her family the closure and peace they deserve,” the source stated.

The suspects reportedly admitted involvement in other criminal activities, including additional kidnappings and vandalism of electricity infrastructure in parts of the state. Another suspect, Isaac Ekpeyong, was also arrested in connection with these crimes.

Professor Ephraim was abducted on July 13, 2023, when armed men, disguised as patients, seized her from her clinic along Atimbo Road, Calabar. Her disappearance sparked widespread outrage, particularly among medical professionals in Cross River State.

In response, the Cross River State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association staged protests and launched an indefinite strike to pressure authorities to secure her release, temporarily crippling healthcare services across the state.

Security sources confirmed that the suspects will be arraigned upon completion of investigations, as efforts continue to dismantle the remaining elements of the criminal network.