…As kidnappers abduct 28 victims in 2 years
From Isaac Job, Uyo
Residents of eight villages in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have deserted their communities for kidnappers who have been terrorising the villages in the last two years, killing, maiming and abducting scores.
The villages are Ikot Abasi Akpan, Ikot Obio Nso, Ekpuk, Nyadiong, Minya Ntak, Ikot Ekpenyong, Ndon Uyo and Ikot Esen.
Sunday Sun gathered that the kidnappers have formed a strong gang from neighbouring Etinan Local Government Area, maintaining a secret cell in Ikot Abasi Akpan and the forest within the locality where victims are caged before demand for ransom is made.
According to sources in the community, those kidnapped in the last one year include a Catholic Priest, Rev Father Alphonsus Uboh; a medical doctor and health workers in the hospital located in Ekpuk; school teachers; businessmen and prominent indigenes, who came from cities to visit the village.
Investigation revealled that a medical doctor was abducted in the theatre while carrying out surgery in the community cottage hospital in Ikot Abasi Akpan by the hoodlums, who stormed the hospital in a motorcycle convoy.
Another victim was a popular television Evangelist and founder of Solid Rock Kingdom Church Apostle, John Okoriko, who was abducted in the church premises while conducting counselling, but regained his freedom after four days in captivity .
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Cletus Okodi from Ikot Obio Nso and the pioneer General Manager of Atlantic FM Radio station, the late Macaulay Ufot who hailed from the area was abducted and killed in the kidnappers’ den.
An indigene of Nyadiong village who pleaded anonymity said that some of the victims were killed by the kidnappers in their custody as negotiation for ransom by their relatives was ongoing.
He disclosed a kidnapping incident where a distributor of beer and other drinks in the area was kidnapped and caged in a particular house in Ikot Abasi Akpan village, and unfortunately the victim died in captivity.
“The list of victims is endless in the last two years. But more than 28 prominent personalities across Mkpat Enin local government and neighbouring council areas have been abducted so far.
“Last week , soldiers stormed the village and set a building ablaze while the kidnappers escaped to unknown hideout within the community .
“Now, the road from Ekparakwa to Ekpene Ukpa bridge leading to Etinan local government area has been deserted because of activities of dare devil kidnapping squad that terrorizes the communities in the last two years.
“We no longer sleep in our houses. The kidnappers are moving freely in the villages with sophisticated weapons. Nobody even discusses them because you don’t know their agents and gang members,” he said.
According to him, kidnapping occurs daily in the village and nobody knows who will be the next victim.
“Still within this week, a prominent politician who was campaigning for Mr Udom Emmanuel, Bishop Andrew Uwanta, was kidnapped on his way to the farm.
“He was waylaid by kidnappers using one tricycle and motorcycles, they abducted him into the tricycle while those on motorbike escorted him with their weapons to unknown destination,” he said.
It was gathered that the politician was rescued by soldiers as they quickly mobilized and combed the bushes and uncompleted buildings, making the hoodlums to run away.
Sources also disclosed that the soldiers first arrested the girlfriend to one of the kidnappers, making the abductors to quickly call the relatives of the victim to plead with the soldiers with a promise that they will release Bishop Uwanta in exchange for the girl in the soldiers’ custody.
Sunday Sun gathered that soldiers immediately obliged to the kidnappers’ bargain by releasing the girl and dropped her off at the negotiated place while the kidnapped victim was also dropped at an agreed location by 10:00 p.m on the same day.
A businesswoman abducted in Ikot Abasi Akpan told our reporter how she was blindfolded and dragged from her shop on motorcycle to a thick forest before she was released after payment of ransom.
She said that Prof Iniobong Udo idem who escaped the kidnappers by the whiskers was trailed within the community before he noticed some movements around him and escaped .
Also, the Vice Principal of Community Secondary School, Nyadiong was not lucky last Wednesday when the kidnappers blocked him near the school.
An eyewitness who pleaded not to be mentioned disclosed that though the Vice Principal escaped, his phone, bags and other personal effects were collected from him, but his whereabouts is still unknown .
Our findings revealed that the kidnappers are using primary school classrooms, abandoned buildings and thick forests within the area to hide their victims and demand ransom from their relatives .
However, some of the victims spoken to refused to mention the amount of money they paid to secure their freedom.
Meanwhile, the activities of kidnappers have affected students of the Akwa Ibom State College of Education, Afaha Nsit, particularly those of them from Ukanafun and OrukAnam council areas because they use Ekpene Ukpa Ekparakwa road on weekends.
“We can’t travel through the road again . We now use Onna or Eket to Ikot Abasi road before we can travel on weekends. It’s a serious issue . Security agencies should rise above this challenge,” one of them told Sunday Sun.
However , the police in the state have said that they are on top of the situation in Mkpat Enin villages where kidnappers are holding sway.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Odiko Mcdon, disclosed that discreet investigation is ongoing to fish out the dare-devil kidnappers.
“We are aware of what is going on in the area. We are working . Very soon it will be over,” he said.