How providence, youths foiled kidnap of octogenarian monarch in Cross River

An attempt by suspected kidnappers to abduct a traditional ruler in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, Tuesday was foiled by a combination of providence and youths of the community.

The octogenarian was on Monday evening whisked away from his house on Ibesikpo by Ambo Street by heavily armed kidnappers, who cordoned off the entire area, shooting sporadically.

Luckily for the monarch,  the kidnappers were unable to take him across the creek due to inadequate water in the creek.

According to a source: “There was no enough water to enable them to cross the victim to the other side.”

Meanwhile, youths of the community had mobilised and gave the kidnappers a hot chase with the support of  Operation Akpakwu, the joint security outfit set up by the state governor, Prof Ben Ayade, and were able to rescue the victim on Tuesday morning.

“The victim was rescued this morning, Tuesday, when our youths and the security operatives invaded the creek. We were told that one of them was shot in the leg and his colleagues took him away and abandoned the victim,” the source said.

“The Monarch is a lucky fellow. Assuming the water was much; he would have been shifted to the other side. Our youths said they have seen the place where the kidnappers built their houses at the other side of the creeks.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo, who represented by her assistant, Igre Ewa, confirmed the incident.

He said: “It’s true that HRH Eteka was kidnapped yesterday, Monday, but was rescued early part of this morning (Tuesday) by a joint team of the security operatives, Operation Akpakwu.

“The team went there when a distress call was made to them. They cordoned off the place and as the result of the pressure, the abductors took their wounded colleagues and ran away and left the victim.”