The Department of State Services (DSS) has announced a major operational breakthrough with the arrest of the alleged leader of the kidnapping syndicate responsible for the abduction and killing of celebrated neurologist, Professor Ekanem Philip Ephraim.
According to a statement by the Service, the suspects were apprehended on December 27, 2025, in Cross River State, bringing closure to a case that deeply shocked the medical community and the nation at large.
The suspected gang leader, identified as 23-year-old Patrick Essien Etim, alongside his accomplice, Bassey Antiha Asuquo, 40, was arrested at a medical facility where they were allegedly planning the abduction of another prominent medical professional. DSS sources revealed that both men had been under covert surveillance since the July 2023 killing of Professor Ephraim, who was kidnapped by gunmen disguised as patients at her clinic in Calabar.
Investigations showed that the suspects confessed to the crime, admitting they murdered the professor after collecting multiple ransom payments from her family. They also reportedly confessed to involvement in several other kidnapping operations, as well as acts of vandalism on electricity installations. These revelations led to the arrest of another accomplice, Isaac Ekpeyong.
Professor Ephraim’s abduction had triggered widespread protests across Cross River State and prompted the Nigeria Medical Association to embark on an indefinite strike, disrupting healthcare services in the state for more than a week.
The DSS described the arrests as a significant breakthrough and reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling criminal networks, restoring public safety, and ensuring justice for victims and their families.
