Description

Ezekiel Paul, a retired school principal, lives in Ikot Abasi Akpan village, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. He was resting in his retirement within his serene and quiet community till last month when he fell into the hands of kidnappers. One Sunday morning, Ezekiel woke up in vim and vitality, preparing to attend morning mass in the Catholic church in front of his house at about 7am. Unknown to him, eight young men arrived his compound in a motorcycle convoy and ordered him not to move.n the twinkle of an eye, they started shooting to scare neighbours who may try to rescue him. In commando style, he was whisked away by the gunmen .

“The victim’s wife, Mrs. Mary Ezekiel, on hearing the noise outside and noticing the action in the compound, raised the alarm for help.

“It was the alarm that attracted the neighborhours to come out but before then, the victim was already whisked off by his captors on a bike,” a source said.

At 5pm the same day, the abductors opened discussions with family members to announce their ransom of N20 million before the retiree could regain his freedom. He spent one week in the kidnappers’ den .

In the same community, a medical doctor serving in the village’s health centre owned by the Akwa Ibom State government was abducted while carrying out surgical operation on a patient in the theatre. The kidnappers also used the same style of moving in a motorcycle convoy and invaded the health facility.

This raised concerns by doctors in the state and their involvement of security agencies saved the life of their colleague though he spent 14 days in captivity.

This community and the adjourning villages are hot spots for cultism, kidnapping, robbery and other crimes in Akwa Ibom. The neighbouring villages, including Nyadiong, Ekpuk, Ikot Ekpaw, Ikot Essen, Ikot Obio Nso and Ikot Abia Enin are where kidnappers and cultists have taken over while residents have fled and those who manage to stay are helpless.

Daily Sun gathered that the entire area from Ekparakwa junction leading to Ekpene Ukpa in Etinan LGA has become a conquered territory by hoodlums. Schools, churches and private businesses operating in the area are not spared by these daredevil gunmen.

One of the villagers, who spoke with our reporter, said nobody discusses operations of the criminals in the area, not even to report to the police.

“You dare not talk about them openly or even secretly. If you try, they will visit you same day and you will be killed,” he said.

Prominent indigenes of Mkpat Enin local government area were abducted in recent times. They include a Catholic priest, doctors, businessmen, school teachers. Even people who passed through Ekparakwa to Etinan fell victims.

Another pathetic incident was the case of the founder of Solid Rock Kingdom Church, Apostle John Okoriko, who was kidnapped from his church premises in Mkpat Enin LGA during counselling session with members and visitors.

It was reported that the popular man of God who does not believe in existence of Satan was whisked away by his abductors who scaled the fence, dragged and blindfolded him as they took him through a bush path to their hideout. He was released after four days in captivity.

Apart from Mkpat Enin, other areas where kidnappers hold sway are Eket, Oron, Uyo, Etim Ekpo, OrukAnam and Ukanafun council areas.

Last week, in Oron, a navy officer and seven other persons were kidnapped in a hotel within Ibaka, Mbo council area of the state. The victims were reportedly abducted by gunmen who escaped with them to an unknown destination.

It was gathered that the abductors stormed the hotel shooting, sporadically while some guests scampered for safety.

Still in Oron within the Okobo axis, the judge of Akwa Ibom High Court was intercepted and kidnapped while returning from court sitting in Oron. Though the judge was later released after 11 days in the kidnappers’ den, his police orderly was shot dead before he was whisked away.

The senator representing Akwa Ibom South senatorial district Senator Nelson Effiong, also known as ‘Tabasco’, has his ugly story to tell from the hands of kidnappers.

The lawmaker, who was relaxing at his business place along Oron road in Uyo, was whisked away on a cool evening in front of his customers. He spent over 14 days in the hands of his abductors. Since then, he does not move freely in town anymore.

The case of the late Sylvanus Ukpong was a tale of display of courage and bravery though he lost out in the battle with kidnappers in Uyo two months ago.

Ukpong, the elder brother to Premium Times editor, Cletus Ukpong, drove out with his farm manager to inspect his farm along Airport Road in Uyo city.

According to an eyewitness, Ukpong was intercepted by unknown persons as one of them pulled out AK 47 rifle and ordered him to come down. He obliged, approached his abductor and disarmed him. But he didn’t know how to operate the gun.

The eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said while battling to operate the AK-47 rifle, one of the kidnappers who stood afar shot him and escaped, leaving the farm manager in the car.

Many, including those living in the city are now in fear as kidnappers continue to terrorize and threaten residents of the state, especially in rural communities.

In the oil-rich Eket LGA of the state, kidnappers are on the prowl attacking businessmen and oil workers.

In June, an indigene of Anambra State and owner of Obico Shopping Mall in the oil city was abducted along Uqua road. A family source, who does not want his name mentioned, said that the victim was abducted on June 30 at about 11:30pm.

According to him, the kidnappers trailed their victim from Uqua road and accosted him along Afaha Eket road after closing from his shop.

“He was waylaid and abducted after threatening him at gun point. They brandished AK-47 rifle,” he said.

He said the suspects drove an unregistered black Toyota Corolla and escaped with the victim and his mobile phone through Eket-Oron road in Eket to an unknown destination.

The abductors were yet to establish contact with members of the family for possible ransom till date while the whereabouts of the victim are unknown.

Two weeks ago, another sad incident occurred along the Azumini-Iwukem axis of the state as gunmen reportedly kidnapped a driver at the boundary between Akwa Ibom and Abia states. They were travelling to Port Harcourt from Uyo.

Though the police and management of the transport firm later ate their words, claiming that the incident did not happen, an an eyewitness who pleaded anonymity said the gunmen stopped the driver of the vehicle after shooting into the air and ordered all the occupants of the car to come down, while other hoodlums came out from the bush and joined in the shooting spree.

“The driver was the first person to come down. Other passengers were ordered to follow immediately. The kidnappers moved all of them to the bush and escaped with them. The whereabouts of the passengers are not known for now,” the source said.

However, the state police command said security agencies are on top of their game to secure the state.

“Our exploit in crime fighting is a security issue and cannot be discussed publicly.

“Many criminal hideouts have been raided in the state. Some of them are undergoing investigation. But I can assure you that the state is safe,” a police source disclosed.