Metro
Kidnappers Kill Pastor, As Police Rescues 4 Victims In C’River
By Ene Ene,Calabar
Four persons who were abducted on Sunday by some unidentified gunmen have been rescued by Cross River State Police Command
Spokesperson for the command, Superintendent Irene Ugbo, made the disclosure in a chat with our Correspondent in Calabar.
According to Ugbo, four kidnap victims were rescued by the police on Monday April 29, 2024.
She confirmed that a pastor was killed during the attack, while another victim is receiving treatment at a medical facility in Ikom.
“Yes, they were more than that number, four have been rescued. We are aware that one of the pastors died and one is receiving treatment.
“So we are on it. That is the discussion that the CP and his management team… just had now. It is the Ikom Area that we are focusing on now.” she said.
The Nations News Nigeria reports that the incident caused great panic in the area, as motorists and commuters from Ikom, Etung, Boki, Ogoja, Yala, Bekwarra, Obanliku Odudu are scared of plying the route which is the only access road from the North and Central senatorial districts to Calabar the state capital.
The Nations news gathered that management of one of the private tertiary institutions in the area on Monday morning asked their staff, who commute through the black spot to stay at home for fear of being kidnapped for ransom.
It was gathered that the attack took place on Sunday morning between 6:30 am and 7:00am at Nde 3 Corners in Ikom Local Government Area, Cross River State, near late Nta Ekoma’s plantation.
Some of the residents of Nde Community, told our reporter that there were sporadic shooting around the area that morning for about 30 minutes.
At the end of the shooting a man simply identified as a pastor was shot dead while another who was also shot is receiving treatment at a medical facility (name withheld) in Ikom.
According to the villagers, the victims were travellers en route Calabar when they were attacked by the Kidnappers.
Other sources from Nde, claimed that three persons returning from church were also abducted by the kidnappers.
Investigation revealed that Nde has been a hotspot for Kidnappers in Cross River State, especially between December 2023 and January 2024.