Judex Okoro, Calabar

Gunmen  have invaded Calabar metropolis Akwa Ibom State  as six persons have been abducted within  the last ten days.

While David Ugwu, a lecturer at University of Calabar, was forcefully taken  away at his residence along Atimbo, Maurice Archibong, an accountant with the Nigerian Chronicle, was kidnapped by gunmen last  Sunday night while Mr. Desmond Oko, a business man was picked  last Tuesday night.

Another  businessman, popularly known as Champion was kidnapped at Garden Street last Wednesday night.

Daily Sun gathered  that Champion’s brother was also kidnapped  when he went to meet the kidnappers  with the ransom and they  collected the money; released Champion and  detained his brother, asking for more ransom.

It was learnt that a  Calabar socialites (names withheld) was kidnapped on Saturday,  Februray 22, at Efio-Ete Axis in Calabar municipality about 9:00pm.

A witness, Eno Emmanuel, said the abductors had traced the victim to a joint at Efio-Ete ,where they hid and later struck as soon as he entered his car to head for his home.

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Eno, who sells oranges around the junction, said: “We just heard a gun shot and we thought they were robbers, because most times they just come, shoot and pick something and zoom off. But this one was different. They took the  man and zoomed off with him”.

However, family sources revealed that Champion and his brother were released after  paying N3.5m ransom while Desmond was released on Saturday night after paying  N2m to his abductors.

The abductors of the account staff of Chronicle newspapers, Maurice Archibong, have reportedly contacted the family and demanded for  N1.5m as ransom before his  release.

For the lecturer, his abductors were demanding for N15m as  he was still with them.

Narrating his ordeals, one of the victims, said: “It was a terrible experience which I cannot even wish my worst enemy.  You can imagine the type of inhuman treatment one went through in their hands of  the kidnappers.

“The boys are operating freely in Calabar and are  having a field day. Calabar has become very unsafe for business and leisure. How can gunmen have their victims in their cars and still beat all the security checkpoints  before heading to the creeks.