Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Calabar, Nigeria — Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested two men alleged to be central figures in the 2023 abduction and murder of a prominent Nigerian academic, bringing a major breakthrough to a case that has lingered for more than two years. The suspects, identified as Patrick Essien Etim, 23, and Bassey Antiha Asuquo, 40, were taken into custody on December 27, 2025, in Cross River State while reportedly planning another kidnapping targeting medical professionals.
The victims of the 2023 crime was Professor Ekanem Philip‑Ephraim, a renowned professor of neurology who was abducted on July 13, 2023, from her private clinic on Atimbo Road in Calabar after armed assailants disguised as patients forced her into a waiting vehicle. Her disappearance sent shockwaves through the medical community and sparked widespread protests by the Cross River State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), which withdrew services in protest and demanded decisive government action.
According to sources familiar with the intelligence operation, DSS agents had monitored the criminal network for a prolonged period following Professor Philip‑Ephraim’s abduction. The suspects were located at a medical facility in the state, where they were allegedly preparing to carry out another abduction targeting a senior healthcare practitioner when they were apprehended.
Security insiders say that both men confessed to their roles in the abduction and killing of the professor, admitting that they murdered her after collecting multiple ransom payments from her family. The suspects also reportedly acknowledged involvement in other kidnapping operations and acts of vandalism, including damage to electricity infrastructure in parts of the state.
The victims’ family and medical colleagues have long sought justice and closure following the traumatic events of 2023, when weeks passed without reliable information on Professor Philip‑Ephraim’s whereabouts. The abduction of a senior medical figure had ignited outrage not just in Cross River but across Nigeria’s healthcare sector and civil society, as healthcare workers decried rising insecurity and the targeting of professionals.
In addition to the principal suspects, security officials have indicated that another alleged accomplice, identified as Isaac Ekpeyong, was also taken into custody in connection with the broader criminal network.
The DSS breakthrough highlights the agency’s ongoing commitment to dismantling kidnapping syndicates and addressing violent crime that has plagued parts of Nigeria, particularly syndicates that deploy deceptive tactics to snatch victims from otherwise secure environments. Tracking and interrogation efforts leading to these arrests are believed to have involved covert surveillance and intelligence coordination over several months.
Professor Philip‑Ephraim’s killing had far‑reaching effects on the Cross River medical community and beyond. The doctor’s abduction and subsequent death underscored growing concerns over the safety of professionals and citizens alike, contributing to broader debates on the effectiveness of Nigeria’s security architecture and the need for heightened protection for vulnerable communities.
Reactions from civil society and professional bodies have welcomed the DSS development, suggesting the arrests may finally offer some measure of closure for the professor’s loved ones after years of uncertainty. At the same time, observers have underscored the importance of due process and transparent prosecution to ensure that those responsible face justice in accordance with Nigerian law.
Legal experts say that the forthcoming prosecution, likely to take place in a federal court, will test the strength of evidence gathered by the DSS and the broader capacity of Nigeria’s justice system to handle complex kidnapping and murder cases involving sophisticated criminal networks.
The arrests come amid intensified public demand for accountability in high‑profile criminal cases and reflect a broader push by security agencies to restore confidence in law enforcement and deter future kidnappings of professionals and civilians across Nigeria.
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