Driver killed, others injured as armed hoodlums abduct Akwa Ibom businessman

A wave of fear has swept through Eket, the headquarters of Eket Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, following a violent attack by armed hoodlums over the weekend that disrupted the peace of the once-tranquil oil community.

Reports indicate that the criminals stormed the town and specifically targeted Samuel Ekerenam, a well-known businessman and owner of Hephzibah Mall.

The armed assailants trailed Ekerenam before kidnapping him, after firing sporadically to disperse onlookers and bystanders.

In the aftermath of the attack, the body of Ekerenam’s driver was discovered lifeless in a pool of blood, having been shot by the kidnappers. Additionally, his police orderly was severely wounded in the gunfire and is currently receiving medical attention.

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According to an eyewitness account by one Udobong Asuquo, a resident of Idua area of Eket, “the hoodlums arrived the shopping complex, and started shooting sporadically to scare people away.

“The incident occurred at about 10:00pm on Saturday. It claimed the life of the driver, while the Police officer attached to the kidnapped proprietor of the mall was injured,” he recalled.

As at the time of filing this report, a family source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said “we are yet to ascertain the motive of the kidnappers whether he was seized for ransom or other motive because they are yet to contact the family.”

However, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Timfon John, who confirmed incident on Monday, disclosed that “the Commissioner of Police (CP), Joseph Eribo, has zero tolerance for crimes, and had since deployed tactical operatives to comb for the abducted businessman.”

The Police spokesperson, therefore, assured that the Police were on top of the game and very soon the kidnap victim would be rescued unharmed and the perpetrators made to face the full weight of the law.

(Leadership)