Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested the alleged leader of a kidnap gang and an accomplice responsible for the 2023 abduction and murder of renowned neurology professor, Ekanem Philip Ephraim.

A credible security source confirmed that 23-year-old Patrick Essien Etim, identified as the gang leader, and 40-year-old Bassey Antiha Asuquo were apprehended on December 27 at a medical facility in Cross River State.

The duo were reportedly plotting to kidnap another prominent medical professional when DSS operatives swooped in.

The arrests bring a major breakthrough in the case that has haunted the medical community for over two years. Prof. Ephraim was abducted on July 13, 2023, by gunmen posing as patients at her private clinic on Atimbo Road, Calabar.

Her kidnapping triggered widespread protests and an indefinite strike by the Cross River State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), which paralyzed the health sector for over a week as doctors demanded government action for her rescue.

According to the source, the DSS had been intensively tracking the syndicate since the professor’s abduction. The suspects have confessed to killing Prof. Ephraim after receiving multiple ransom payments from her family. They also admitted to involvement in other kidnappings and the vandalism of electricity cables, with a third suspect, Isaac Ekpeyong, arrested in connection to these crimes.

“It has been two years of torment for her loved ones, not knowing what happened to the professor. I believe that with this arrest, her family and loved ones will finally have some peace and the much-needed closure they deserve,” the source stated.

The development underscores the DSS’s renewed focus on covert operations and restoring public safety, the source added.

Investigations are ongoing, with the suspects expected to face prosecution.

Obinwanne Okeke, the Nigerian businessman popularly known as Invictus Obi, has been released from United States federal prison after serving approximately six years for his involvement in an $11 million internet fraud scheme, multiple reports confirmed on Thursday.

Records from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmate locator indicate that Okeke is listed as “Not in BOP Custody as of: 12/23/2025,” signaling his exit from federal incarceration ahead of his original projected release date of September 3, 2028.

Okeke, 38, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in February 2021 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The charges stemmed from a sophisticated business email compromise (BEC) scheme between 2015 and 2019, where he and associates used phishing tactics to divert funds, including a major interception targeting Unatrac Holding Limited, a UK-based exporter linked to Caterpillar Inc.

Prosecutors described the operation as causing “staggering losses of about $11 million” to victims through impersonation and computer hacking.

His early release is widely attributed to good conduct credits and provisions under the First Step Act, a U.S. criminal justice reform law that allows sentence reductions for certain non-violent offenders.

Reports from outlets including Linda Ikeji’s Blog, Peoples Gazette, and BusinessDay indicate that deportation proceedings to Nigeria are underway, consistent with his non-U.S. citizen status and the terms of his plea agreement. As his crimes were federal, a transfer to state custody is considered unlikely.

Once hailed as a rising star in African entrepreneurship, Okeke founded the Invictus Group, claiming investments in construction, agriculture, oil and gas, telecommunications, and real estate across Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia.

In 2016, he was featured on Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 list, celebrated for his purported success story from humble beginnings.

His 2019 arrest by the FBI at Dulles International Airport as he attempted to leave the U.S. marked a dramatic fall, sparking widespread discussions on cybercrime, the allure of quick wealth, and scrutiny of young Nigerian entrepreneurs.

With his release, questions now focus on Okeke’s future: potential supervised release conditions in the U.S., his return to Nigeria, and any ongoing restrictions.

No official statement has been issued by U.S. authorities or Okeke’s representatives regarding the exact terms of his release.

The case continues to highlight global efforts to combat BEC scams, which remain a significant threat to businesses worldwide.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has strongly denounced the suicide bombing at a mosque in Gamboru Market, Maiduguri, Borno State, which killed at least five worshippers and injured dozens more during evening prayers on Christmas Eve.

Describing the incident as a “despicable assault on innocent citizens and the peace of the nation,” Shettima emphasized that such acts of terror will not deter the Federal Government’s determination to eradicate insurgency.

In response to the attack, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed an immediate ramp-up of security operations across Borno State. Additional tactical teams are being deployed to hunt down the perpetrators, with security agencies operating around the clock to ensure swift justice.

“The Federal Government will not tolerate any attempt to undermine the peace and security of our nation,” Shettima stated.

“Our security forces are fully equipped and supported to bring these criminals to account and uncover every detail of this heinous crime.

“The Vice President extended heartfelt condolences to the Borno State government, residents of Maiduguri, and families of the victims, assuring them that the perpetrators will face the full force of the law.

He reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s ironclad commitment to national security since taking office in 2023, pledging continued resources and backing for security agencies to decisively combat terrorism in all its manifestations.

Shettima noted ongoing collaboration with state and local authorities to bolster protection for vulnerable communities and key infrastructure in the North East and beyond.

The bombing, confirmed by authorities as a likely suicide attack, marks a rare breach of calm in Maiduguri, which had seen no major incidents since 2021.