From: Judex Okoro, Calabar
Two traders have been kidnapped in Calabar, Cross River State capital.
In the last two weeks, three persons were abducted at various locations within the metropolis.
The victims include Lawal, a soldier attached to the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army and a trader, Ikechukwu Obumneme. Lawal was allegedly kidnapped along the busy Calabar Road, while Obumneme was abducted at his residence at Anantigha.
On November 7, gunmen kidnapped a director in the Cross River State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Bibiana Elemi-Edu, the President of Catholic Women Organization of St Bernard’s Catholic Church along Target Street in Calabar and demanded N100 million.
Investigations revealed that barely two weeks after Mrs. Bibiana Elemi-Edu was released, gunmen again kidnapped two traders, Chief Anthony Nwakaeze and Mr Olani on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Nwakaeze, who hails from Ebelebe community in Awka, Anambra State, is the Managing Director of Anafobi filling stations, while Olani deals in plastic wares.
A witness, Udeme, said about five hoodlums in a black Toyota Camry car stormed the station about 7pm on Saturday.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Irene Ugbo, said they are not aware of such incident as no official report was made to her.