From: Judex Okor, Calabar
The Cross River State Police Command has smashed a kidnap gang.
Members of the gang alleged to have been terrorising innocent citizens within Calabar metropolis were rounded up yesterday and a victim, Mr Godwin Oduma was rescued.
The victim was abducted at his residence in Calabar at about 8:00pm on Monday while returning from shop.
Witness told Daily Sun that the kidnappers had stormed Oduma’s premises under the guise that they were policemen and have been ordered to bring him to station to answer to petition against him.
According to the witness, the victim joined them in his Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), but was shocked that on getting to one of the police stations, the assailants drove away to an unknown destination.
Immediately, his family and friends made series of distress calls to police, alerting them of the kidnap of Oduma.
Following a tip off, security operatives swung into action and finally rescued the victim yesterday morning.
The state Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, said, “Oduma was indeed kidnapped on Monday but rescued early Tuesday by a team of detectives.
According to him, “one of the suspected kidnappers was arrested in their hideout while others escaped, and that the victim’s Pathfinder SUV snatched was yet to be recovered.
He said a manhunt has been declared on the hoodlums to recover the vehicle and get other members of the gang arrested.
The Commissioner also confirmed the release of a third republic Senator, Patrick Ani, who was kidnapped a couple of days ago at his residence in Calabar.
Ani, a younger brother of erstwhile Finance minister, Chief Anthony Ani, represented Cross River southern Senatorial District in the upper legislative chamber in the third republic.