Gunmen kidnap Akwa Ibom senator, injure others

No fewer than eight persons have been reportedly injured in a stampede as armed hoodlums abducted Nelson Effiong, the immediate past Senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District) at the Red Chambers.

He was reportedly kidnapped by three armed hoodlums at his lounge, a popular sit-out on Oron Road, Uyo late Sunday night.

It was gathered that eight customers were injured in a resulting stampede as the patrons ran for safety amid hails of bullets randomly fired by the hoodlums.

“I have just been shot been shot along Oron Road,” Erick Ekwere, one of the victims cried out on social media, urging security agencies to rescue the situation.

“The incident occurred at about 9:00 p.m. on Sunday night. The armed men stormed the sit-out with a Toyota Camry car and started shooting sporadically at random, sending the customers and other guests to scamper for safety before they made straight to the former Senator”, a source said.

Effiong, former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, was later whisked away by the hoodlums in a Toyota Camry car to unknown destination for ransom cash to be negotiated, the source added.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state (PPRO), SP Odiko Macdon, did not answer the telephone calls to his phone nor responded to text message. However, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Amiengheme Andrew, assured that “there will be a statement on the matter.”