Gunmen recently took the lives of a pastor in a dreadful incident in Cross River State. Meanwhile, the police managed to successfully rescue four individuals who had been abducted.
The abduction occurred on Sunday, April 28, with the police swiftly conducting the rescue operation on the following day, Monday, April 29, 2024.
In a statement to the press, SP Irene Ugbo, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, verified the occurrences and disclosed that several individuals had been taken captive.
Notably, the pastor lost his life during the violent attack, while one of the victims is currently undergoing medical treatment at a facility in Ikom, located in central Cross River State.
SP Ugbo mentioned, “Yes, the number of abductees exceeds what has been reported; four individuals have been successfully rescued. We are aware of the unfortunate death of one pastor, and another victim is receiving medical care. The actual count of kidnapped individuals might be higher, but our focus remains on the ongoing rescue efforts. The incident took place in the Ikom area, and that is where our attention is directed at the moment.”
After this distressing incident, commuters and drivers are now expressing fear about using the affected route. The road serves as the primary link from the north and central senatorial districts to Calabar, the capital city of the state.
Due to safety concerns, a private university situated in the Ikom vicinity has cautioned its faculty and students against traveling through the Nde community to prevent potential abduction risks.
Over the past six months, Nde 3 Corners in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State, situated close to the late Nta Ekoma’s plantation, has gained a notorious reputation for kidnapping incidents.