Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested the alleged leader of the gang responsible for the kidnapping and murder of a renowned professor of neurology, Ekanem Philip Ephraim, nearly two years after the tragic incident that shocked Cross River State and the nation at large.

Security sources confirmed that the prime suspect, identified as 23-year-old Patrick Essien Etim, was arrested alongside his alleged accomplice, Bassey Antiha Asuquo, aged 40. The arrests reportedly took place at a medical facility in Cross River State, following weeks of coordinated surveillance and intelligence operations.

According to information obtained from security officials, the arrest was the result of sustained, intelligence-driven investigations by the DSS. The agency had been tracking the activities of the kidnap syndicate since Professor Ephraim was abducted and killed in July 2023. The suspects were said to have remained under close watch as operatives gathered evidence linking them to the crime.

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A security source disclosed that the suspects posed as patients before abducting the professor from her private medical facility located along Atimbo Road in Calabar. The source said the DSS had maintained pressure on the criminal network despite the passage of time, determined to bring those responsible to justice.

“The DSS had been on the trail of the gang since the unfortunate killing of the professor in 2023,” the source revealed, noting that the breakthrough came after months of discreet monitoring and intelligence gathering.

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Investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly collected multiple ransom payments from the victim’s family before killing her. This development further deepened public outrage, as it underscored the brutality and deception involved in the crime. During interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to their roles in the abduction and murder of Professor Ephraim.

A DSS source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the arrest has brought a measure of relief to the victim’s family after nearly two years of uncertainty and grief. According to the source, the prolonged wait for answers had taken an emotional toll on her loved ones.

“It has been two years of torment for her family, not knowing exactly what happened to the professor. With this arrest, I believe they can finally have some peace and the closure they deserve,” the source said.

The suspects also reportedly admitted involvement in other criminal activities, including the kidnapping of additional victims and the vandalisation of electricity cables in parts of Cross River State. These revelations have raised concerns about the scale of criminal operations carried out by the gang and their impact on public safety and infrastructure.

Security sources further disclosed that another suspect, identified as Isaac Ekpeyong, has also been arrested in connection with the crimes. Efforts are reportedly ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate and dismantle the entire criminal network.

Professor Ephraim was abducted on July 13, 2023, by armed men disguised as patients at her private clinic. Her disappearance sparked widespread outrage across Cross River State, particularly within the medical community. In response, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Cross River State chapter, staged statewide protests and embarked on an indefinite strike to pressure authorities to secure her release.

The strike action crippled healthcare services across the state for more than a week, as doctors withdrew their services in solidarity with their abducted colleague. The incident remains one of the most disturbing crimes against medical professionals in the state’s history.

Security officials confirmed that the suspects would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations, as the DSS continues efforts to bring all those involved to justice and prevent similar crimes in the future.