By Jonathan Ugbal
Nine days after Cross River water resources commissioner, Gabriel Odu-Oji was kidnapped along Mayne Avenue in Calabar south local government area of southern Cross River, authorities are yet to brief the media concerning his abduction.
Findings revealed that the State Security Adviser, Jude Ngaji had briefed the state EXCO in a meeting last week and said he was working with the Police Commissioner, CP Hafiz Inuwa and other relevant security agencies to ensure the release of the commissioner.
But, the Police says there has been no information yet with the Police Public Relations Officer in the Cross River Command, ASP Irene Ugbo telling CrossRiverWatch on phone that the kidnappers are yet to contact the commissioner’s family but may have contacted the government already leaving this reporter with an impression there may be more to it than meets the eye.
“We are still on it, there is no information yet,” ASP Irene said.
When asked if any family member has been contacted, she said: “No no they have not (contacted the family).”
She continued: “But, I think they contacted the government, they are on top of it. We (The Police) too, we are doing our own investigation to ascertain whether it was a planned assignment. So, but for now, we are working on it, nothing has been heard yet.”
Also, unconfirmed information from reliable sources suggest that Odu-Oji may have visited his female lover and they were cooling off when the kidnappers stormed in contrary to earlier reports by CrossRiverWatch that he went to his favorite restaurant to eat that Sunday morning.
He is said to have driven in a Black Toyota Prado SUV and parked just meters away from her residence and went in with the female lover said to be in Police custody till date as the state has tagged her, ‘an accessory to the crime’.
The kidnap had come barely 24 hours after the Governor, Senator Ben Ayade had directed the relocation of anti-crime outfit; ‘Operation Skolombo’ to Calabar South with no information on recorded success made available to the press 10 days after.