Ini Billie, Uyo
Oruk Anam and Mkpat Enin local government areas of Akwa Ibom have been under siege as gunmen swirled through the councils kidnapping a Catholic priest and 18 other persons.
It was gathered that residents of the areas and other adjoining villages in Oruk Anam and Mkpat Enin LGAs were being robbed daily while persons like shop owners, civil servants and local businessmen were being kidnapped for ransom.
The Catholic priest, Father Alphonsus Uboh is the Parish Priest of X Parish located at Ikot Abasi Akpan along Ekparakwa-Etinan road in Mkpat Enin local government area.
The gunmen reportedly arrived at the church premises of Father Uboh at exactly 7pm on Sunday night in a motorcycle convoy, forced their way into the church premises and whisked the priest away on their motorcycle after shooting sporadically into the air to scare away the people.
The incident is happening barely two weeks after the Founder and President of Solid Rock Kingdom Church, Apostle John Okoriko was kidnapped in his residence, but was later freed after spending four days in the kidnappers’ den and ransom money was paid.
Investigation revealed that the Catholic Priest alongside 18 other victims have so far been kidnapped in the axis between November 2021 and May 2022, as gunmen have taken over the area kidnapping and killing innocent people.
Reacting to the kidnap trend, a top police officer in the area who spoke on the condition of anonymity, especially as the sources was not authorised to speak said the incidence was alarming and giving the Police sleepless night.
Confirming the kidnap of the priest, Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Mcdon said they were working to tackle the activities of gunmen in the area.
“We have received the report from that area and we are working on it,” he said.
The affected communities include Ekparakwa, villages along Ekparakwa/Ikot Abasi road in Oruk Anam local government area, and Ikot Ebak, Ikot Akaam, Ibekwe Akpan axis in Mkpat local government area.