Patrick Ekpoh
Akwa Ibom State Police command has confirmed the abduction of about 20 passengers including a comedian who popularly known as General Odey along the Cross River Water ways by suspected Sea pirates.
Commissioner of Police Baba Mohammed Azare who confirmed the incident to journalists in Uyo on Friday however could not state if any of victims has been rescued as it is the Cross River State command that is investigating the incident.
“I will not know wether there has been any rescue because it is the Cross River State Police command that is investigating the matter.
“The incident did not happen within Akwa Ibom waterway. So the Cross River State command is investigating the matter and we are collaborating together to apprehend the culprits” the CP said
The victims were kidnapped on Easter Good Friday enroute to Calabar, Cross River State.
The passengers had boarded Akwa- Cross Transport company Boat, in Oron enroute to Calabar, before their boat was intercepted by the gunnmen in the Cross River waterways, diverting the boat to an unknown destination.
A relations to staff of Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation, Television service, and a comedian known as General Odey as well as a relation to the staff of Advocate Broadcasting Network (ABDN) were among the victims kidnapped.
The Wife to one of the victims had called a journalist in Akwa Ibom State to also confirm the incident, revealing that the Kidnappers have contacted her and demanded a ransom of N100m for the release. she however could not tell wether exactly the N100Milllion ransom was for the release of her husband only or for the twenty passengers kidnapped.
