Despite several attempts by the police to clamp down on the spate of kidnap in the country, the vice has continued unabated, as a monarch's pregnant wife and children are the latest victims.
No fewer than 10 gunmen on Friday night, kidnapped the pregnant wife of the paramount ruler of Esit Eket in Akwa Ibom State, Ubong Assam.
The gunmen also abducted the four children of the traditional ruler.
The Secretary, Traditional Rulers Council, Esit Eket, Chief Asuquo Abia told the News Agency of Nigeria in Esit Eket on Saturday, that the gunmen invaded the palace of the paramount ruler in the early hours of Friday morning.
Abia, who is also the Village Head of Afaha Akpenedi, said the gunmen shot sporadically for over five hours from 1.30am to 6am.
He said, “The gunmen destroyed part of the palace with dynamites and broke into all the rooms and carted away valuables,’’ he said.
He said the gunmen arrived at the palace on Thursday, claiming to be policemen from Abuja on an investigation.
Also, a family member, Mr. Norbert Assam, said that seven people wounded in the incident were hospitalised in the state.
He said that the paramount ruler’s wife was eight months pregnant when she was kidnapped.
Assam also said that the gunmen escaped the scene with their victims in the paramount ruler’s Jeep.
Reacting, the Police Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom, ASP. Cordelia Nwawe, said the command was yet to receive a report on the kidnap from the Divisional Police Officer in the area.
Nwawe said the family had also reported the incident to the command of the area, adding that the police was committed to the safety of life and property in the area.
NAN reported that it was the second time in two years that gunmen would attack the monarch’s palace.