In a significant breakthrough, the Department of State Services (DSS) has apprehended the leader of the criminal gang responsible for the abduction and tragic murder of a renowned neurology professor in Calabar, Cross River State.
Two-Year Manhunt Culminates in Arrest
Operatives of the secret police made the arrest on Saturday, December 28, 2025, finally closing in on the suspects after a relentless two-year investigation. The primary target, Patrick Essien Etim, aged 23, identified as the gang leader, was captured alongside his accomplice, Bassey Antiha Asuquo, 40.
The arrest occurred at a medical facility within Cross River State, where the duo was allegedly in the advanced stages of planning another kidnapping, this time targeting a high-profile medical professional. A credible security source confirmed the details to analyst Zagazola Makama.
Details of the Heinous Crime
The victim, Professor Ekanem Philip Ephraim, a respected consultant neurologist at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), was kidnapped on July 13, 2023. Her abductors, disguised as patients, seized her from her private clinic located on Atimbo Road in Calabar.
According to the DSS source, the arrested suspects have now confessed to the crime. They admitted to murdering the professor after receiving multiple ransom payments from her distraught family. The source revealed that the professor's loved ones endured two years of torment without closure regarding her fate.
“I believe that, with this arrest, her family and loved ones will be able to finally have some peace and the much needed closure that they deserve,” the source stated.
Broader Criminal Network and Fallout
The criminal activities of the gang extended beyond this single case. Patrick Essien Etim and Bassey Antiha Asuquo, along with another accomplice named Isaac Ekpeyong also arrested by the DSS, owned up to a series of other kidnappings and acts of vandalism, including the destruction of electricity cables.
Previously, nine suspects had been arrested in connection with the professor's kidnap and are currently in prison custody awaiting trial. The murder of Prof. Ekanem sparked widespread outrage, leading the Cross River State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) to stage statewide protests.
In a powerful move to pressure the government, the medical body embarked on an indefinite strike that paralyzed the health sector for over a week, demanding action to rescue the professor.
The security source framed this arrest as a testament to the DSS's operational strategy, declaring, "This huge breakthrough underscores the commitment of the DSS in reverting to covertness in its operations and restoring public safety across the country."
