Southern
City News learnt on Friday that the kidnap is coming barely one month after two
pupils were reportedly abducted from a public school in the Ikot-Effanga area
of Calabar.
A Calabar
resident, Mr. Adisa Ojo, said one of the kidnapped businessmen identified as
Justin, was abducted at about 8pm on Monday at Palm Street in Calabar-South and
taken to an unknown destination.
He said that
another businessman, whose name was given as Nwadike, was kidnapped at about
9pm of the same day in the Ikot-Ansa area of the state.
He said,
“Justine is 47. He is a native of Ukanafun in Akwa Ibom State and deals on
cosmetics product at the Akpabuyo Market, while Nwadike (41), is a building
contractor who shuttles between Imo and Cross River states.”
An
eyewitness, Ogbonnia Udehi, said the third kidnap victim identified as Lumba is
an auto mechanic, who was abducted at about 5pm in his workshop in Calabar on
Wednesday.
“Lumba is
from Ohafia in Abia State. He was whisked away from his workshop at the Goldie
Cemetery area of Calabar Municipality on Wednesday. The hoodlums came in at
about 5pm on that fateful day and jumped through the fence into the premises.
“On sighting
the gang, one of his boys took to his heels and while Lumba attempted to
escape, the kidnappers swooped on him and whisked him into a waiting car before zooming off. The kidnappers shot into
the air to scare residents away while their victim cried for help,” he said.
A family
source, who craved anonymity, said the kidnapers had yet to make contact with
Lumba’s relatives.
The source
further said it was unusual for kidnappers to keep their victim for long
without opening contact to demand for ransom.
However, a
family member of Nwadike, who preferred not to be mentioned, said, “The
abductors of my brother have called and demanded for N20m as ransom. But I
pleaded with them that we do not have that kind of money.
“Well, we
have not reported to the security operatives because they warned that if we do,
they would kill him and we would still pay the ransom. So, we are in a dilemma
and don’t know what to do. We are still begging the people to let go for his
health sake.”
Reacting to
the development, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hafiz Inuwa, said the
situation has become the trend for families of most kidnapped victims who
hardly report such incidents, adding that the situation was difficult for the
police to intervene.
He, however,
said that the command has arrested three notorious criminals who have been
terrorising Calabar-South, adding that they would soon be prosecuted.
Comments