Entrepreneur abducted by gunmen in army uniforms

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of a businessman, Dennis Ajah, in Eket Local Government Area of the state.

Ajah was reportedly kidnapped from his business premises located at 94 Afaha Eket Road, Eket, at about 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, by three unidentified gunmen disguised in army uniforms. The assailants whisked him away in a Toyota Camry to an unknown location.

Confirming the incident on Wednesday, the state Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that an investigation is ongoing to rescue the victim and bring the perpetrators to justice.

“The case was reported to the police and effort is ongoing to get the victim released as soon as practicable,” Mr Azare said.

A NAN correspondent, who visited the victim’s business premises, reports that his shops were not opened, apparently because of the incident.

NAN learnt that the victim is a wholesaler and deals in rice, beans, garri, and guinea corn, among other items.

A family source told NAN on the condition of anonymity that the abductors had yet to contact the victim’s relations for ransom at the time of filing the report.

NAN reports that Mr Ajah’s abduction was the second major case in Eket this year.

Abduction for ransom has become one of the prevalent crimes in many Nigerian cities, with government officials, entrepreneurs, and even students and clerics or just anyone as targets.