Gunmen Kidnap Ex-Akwa Ibom Perm Sec After Church Meeting

Ignatius Brown, a former Permanent Secretary of Akwa Ibom State,was kidnapped on Monday by gunmen in Abak Local Government Area of the state.

Brown, who is the chairman, Saint John’s Catholic Church Council, Abak LGA was abducted a few metres away from his home while returning home after the church meeting he had with his members that evening.

The retired Permanent Secretary who hailed from Etinan Local Government Area had been living in Abak, for many years before the incident occurred that fateful day.

An eye witness who identified himself as Mr Aniefiok Marcus told newsmen in Uyo on Tuesday that the hoodlums trailed the PS from the church along Abak-Ikot Ekpene road and overtook his driver some few metres away from his house.

He said, “they (the hoodlums) trailed him from the Saint John’s Catholic Cathedral along Abak-Ikot Ekpene road, and overpowered the driver close to the house at Udokpo street, after shooting sporadically to scare away other vehicles and commuters on the road.”

“When they (the kidnappers) succeeded in halting the Toyota RAV4 SUV of Sir Brown, they bundled the driver out, hijacked the vehicle and sped away with him lying down on the floor of the car.”

He, however, added that the car was later recovered abandoned along the Abak-Ekparakwa road, after disappearing with the victim to an unknown destination.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon, who confirmed the incident disclosed that one suspect had been arrested and helped the command with the necessary information to track down the other kidnappers.

He said: “We have received that report already, and as we speak, preliminary investigation is ongoing. The Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durusinmi, has detailed the Officer-in-Charge of kidnapping and other Tactical teams to ensure that the victim is successfully rescued and reunited with his family.

 “Based on the CP’s instructions, a lot had already been done. We have one person in our custody who is helping us with the necessary information, and I believe that the kidnapped victim will soon regain his freedom.”