THE Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested the suspected killers of Professor of Neurology, Ekanem Philip Ephraim, almost two years after her abduction and death.
The suspects were apprehended on December 27 at a medical facility in Cross River State while allegedly planning to abduct another prominent medical professional.
A reliable source confirmed the gang leader as 24-year-old Patrick Essien Etim, alongside his accomplice, Bassey Antiha Asuquo, aged 40.
According to the source, the DSS had been tracking the kidnapping syndicate since July 2023, when gunmen posing as patients abducted Professor Ephraim from her private clinic in Calabar.
The suspects reportedly confessed to the crime, admitting that they killed the professor after collecting several ransom payments from her family.
The source described the arrest as a major breakthrough, noting that it brings long-awaited relief and closure to the professor’s family after nearly two years of uncertainty.
The development, the source added, highlights the DSS’s renewed commitment to covert operations and improving public safety nationwide.
Investigations also revealed that the suspects confessed to involvement in other kidnappings and acts of vandalism, including damage to electricity infrastructure.
Another suspect, identified as Isaac Ekpeyong, was also arrested in connection with the crimes.
Recall that professor Ephraim was abducted on July 13, 2023, an incident that triggered widespread protests across Cross River State.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) declared an indefinite strike, which disrupted healthcare services for over a week as pressure mounted on authorities to secure her release.