Diana Okon-Effiong, Calabar
Etubom Essien
Etubom Essien Cobham, the father of State Deputy Governor,Mr Efiok Cobham, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen in his country home,
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen took away the elder statesman at about 2.am Friday in his residence at Creek Town, Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River.
The witnesses said the Deputy Governor’s uncle, whose name was not immediately ascertained, was also abducted by the gunmen.
Attempt to get government’s reaction on the incident was not successful as top government officials kept sealed lips over the incident.
According to sources in the Creek Town but sources in Creek Town there was so much shooting while the operation lasted.
They said that the house of the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr Ita Ekpenyong, was allegedly also attacked but they were repelled by security men.
The sources disclosed that the heavily armed men accompanied by an Alsatian dog came in through the Calabar creeks with two speed boats.
The incident, according to eyewitnesses, lasted for hours and took the community by surprise as the gunmen fired gun shots indiscriminately scaring away any form of resistance before abducting their victims
The State Police Public Relations Officer Mr Hogan Bassey said he was aware of the incident.
He said: “But for security reasons, I cannot tell you what we are doing to rescue him’’.
“But the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kola Sodipo, and senior officers have gone to Creek Town to see the building and the damage done.
He also spoke on the number of persons abducted: “for now we are talking of the father. In due course we will give you details”.
On the incident at the SSS Director General’s house, he said the kidnappers could not gain access.
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