By CrossRiverWatch Admin
Cases of kidnapping in the once most peaceful State in Niger Delta’s Nigeria, Cross River, has increased within the last seven days with a total of seven people in the hostage takers den.
Mrs. Eno Orok, asthmatic and hypertensive patient was abducted last night, Sunday from her bed while asleep.
She was said to have gone to bed before the six armed gunmen forced their way into her residence at Uyanga, Akamkpa LGA at about 10pm and took her way.
No contact has been made to the family of Mrs. Orok by her abductors as at press time. Mrs. Orok, our newsroom learnt is a Civil Servant.
Mr. Ani Oku, from Odukpani LGA in Cross River was kidnapped at about 7pm yesterday Sunday. Ani is a Director in the Cross River State Civil Service and father of the present Councillor representing ward 10 in Calabar South LGA.
He was kidnaped from his house at Academy Street by Target road, Calabar South 7pm, yesterday Sunday while trying to repark his car inside his house. He was driven away by the kidnappers in his car. But his car was found this morning at Ewa Ekeng Street Henshaw town community, Calabar South.
Security sources informed CrossRiverWatch that there has been six kidnap cases within the last one week with three around Edim Otop alone. Edim Otop is in Calabar Municipal, opposite the Akim Navy barracks.
The sources further expressed worry that the department responsible for hunting down these criminals are suffering low morale and have slowed down their activities owing to the fact that several other arrested kidnappers have not been diligently prosecuted and sent to prison under the new Anti- Cultism law of Cross River State but are rather usually set free and sent back into the system without any retribution.
The trio according to our multiple security sources include:
Maxwell Itima, a son of a retired Police Officer in Calabar staying inside CRUTECH and said to be the third-in-command in their kidnap gang. He is also reputed to have CRUTECH security personnel on his payroll and anytime a baite drives into his axis, the security personnel inform him from the CRUTECH gate.
The dreaded and notorious kidnap kingpin, Romance, who is second-in-command in the same kidnap gang and whose house was demolished by Government in CRUTECH, for allegedly been built with proceeds from kidnapping.
And Emmanuel Afang, who is said to be the leader of the kidnap gang. He was also fingered as one of those who led the invasion of Access bank in Calabar during the recent #EndSARS crisis.
The trio are alleged to have masterminded the last 6 kidnap incidents in the State.