Gunmen kidnap Cross River Deputy Governor’s father

The Cross River Police confirmed the kidnap.

The Police in Cross River on Friday confirmed the abduction of Etubom Essien Cobham, the father of the Deputy Governor, Efiok Cobham, by gunmen at his country home in Creek Town.

The Public Relations Officer of the Cross River State Police Command, Hogan Bassey, confirmed the development while speaking with journalists in Calabar.

“For security reasons, I cannot tell you what we are doing to rescue him.

“The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kola Sodipo, and senior officers of the command have gone to Creek Town to see the building and the damage done,” Mr. Bassey said.

Witnesses said the gunmen abducted the elder statesman at about 2 a.m. on Friday in his residence at Creek Town in the Odukpani Local Government Area of the state.

Sources said that the deputy governor’s uncle, whose name was not immediately ascertained, was also abducted by the gunmen.

According to the sources in Creek Town, there was so much shooting while the operation lasted.

Sources disclosed that the heavily armed abductors, accompanied by an Alsatian dog, came in through the Calabar creeks with two speed boats.

The incident, according to witnesses, lasted for hours and took the community by surprise as the kidnappers fired gun shots indiscriminately to scare away any form of resistance before executing their act.

On the number of persons abducted across the state, Mr. Bassey said: “For now we are talking of the father. In due course we will give you details.”

On the incident at the residence of the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Ita Ekpenyong, the police spokesperson said the kidnappers could not gain access to Mr. Ekpenyong’s place.

He said that though the house of the SSS Director-General was allegedly attacked, the attackers were repelled by security officials.

Efforts to get the State Government’s reaction on the incident were not successful as top government officials kept sealed lips on the incident.

(NAN)