By Pedro Ayobami
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The once peaceful town of Eket, headquarters of Eket local government area of Akwa Ibom State, has been thrown into a state of fear and uncertainty following the return of insecurity and breach of peace by armed hoodlums. The hoodlums, who stormed the oil city at the weekend, trailed and kidnapped a prominent businessman, Samuel Ekerenam, owner of Hephzibah Mall.
Eyewitnesses reported that the criminals shot sporadically to scare passersby away, leaving the body of Ekerenam’s driver lifeless in a pool of blood. The Police Orderly attached to the kidnapped businessman was also severely wounded in the gun attack.
According to an eyewitness account by Udobong Asuquo, a resident of Idua area of Eket, “the hoodlums arrived at the shopping complex and started shooting sporadically to scare people away. The incident occurred at about 10:00 pm on Saturday.”
As at the time of filing this report, a family source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the family was yet to ascertain the motive of the kidnappers, whether Ekerenam was seized for ransom or other motives, as they were yet to contact the family.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Timfon John, who confirmed the incident to LEADERSHIP on Monday, disclosed that the Commissioner of Police (CP), Joseph Eribo, had zero tolerance for crimes and had since deployed tactical operatives to comb for the abducted businessman.
The Police spokesperson assured that the Police were on top of the game and very soon the kidnap victim would be rescued unharmed and the perpetrators made to face the full weight of the law. The Police have urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward and assist in the investigation.
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