A kidnap suspect, identified as Edidiong Bill alias Barrister, has blamed his father for his actions, saying he did not train him well.

Bill was among the 16 suspected criminal paraded by the state Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed.

Bill, who said he had once been jailed for kidnapping, said his father stole part of the proceeds. He said

“I kidnapped three people and collected N4.5m from them; but I lost N3.8m of the money to my father. “I blame my father because he did not train me well while I was growing up. But when I went to live with him after I had money, he stole part of the ransom from me and ran away with it.”

Ahmed said that on April 4, 2019, around 1 am, the police stormed a kidnap hideout at Afaha Efiat village, in the Etinan LGA, and arrested Bill.

He explained that during the investigation, the suspect confessed to being the overall leader of the Vikings Confraternity cult in Etinan, adding that he was involved in several heinous crimes, including kidnappings and robberies within Etinan and Uyo areas.

“The suspect also confessed that sometime in 2017, he masterminded the kidnap of a lady at Akpan Essien Street, Uyo and kept her in an uncompleted building at Obio Eton in Uyo and collected a ransom of N4.5m before she regained her freedom.

“On April 4, policemen attached to Operation Purge, in the Etim Ekpo LGA, also arrested a notorious cult member, John Effiong.

“During investigation, the suspect confessed his involvement in five armed robberies and also admitted that he was a member of the Iceland Confraternity cult,” the CP added.