Kidnapped Foreigners: Cross River Deputy Governor Meets State Security Adviser, Security Chiefs

By Jonathan Ugbal; Government House Correspondent

Following the recent kidnapping of 3 foreigners working with Macmahon, a contracting firm working for Lafarge PLC in Cross River State, the deputy governor, Professor Ivara Esu Thursday in Calabar, met with the State Security Adviser (SSA), Jude Ngaji and heads of security agencies in the state, CrossRiverWatch can authoritatively report.

The closed door meeting which held in the inner office of the deputy governor began at about 12 noon and lasted for about 1 hour with journalists customarily barred from covering the meeting as not even the government house correspondents were invited in.

They was no briefing after the meeting which sources say was held in order to strategize towards securing the release of the abducted foreigners. This was later confirmed by the SSA in a telephone conversation where he said security is being beefed up.

“The security agencies have being briefed; they know exactly what to do. The entire waterways and lands as well as everything is being taken care of, other strategies are not what we will discuss now but all we know now is that we will do our best to get the men out, get them alive” Jude said.

The meeting was expected to continue today with no information whether the kidnappers have made contact with anyone for a ransom.

In a related development, sources say the governor plans adding more vehicles and other sensitive equipment to boost the crime fighting assets of the various security outfits.

On display at the premises of the governor’s office in Calabar are about six new 2013 model Ford Ranger Special Utility Vehicles fitted with amber warning lights with two suspected to be transferred from the fleet earlier earmarked for the green police according to sources.

Also, a detachment of about 15 policemen in the force’s MOPOL unit have been drafted to Obudu local government area with three 2013 model Ford Ranger SUV’s attached to them to help ensure the implementation of the curfew imposed by the government which is supposed to run till September 14, 2016.