Insecurity is reaching an alarming rate in Nigeria’s Cross River State, with kidnappers running riot in the state resulting in the kidnapping of over 21 residents within the last three weeks.
The victims include travellers, a businessman, two medical doctors, health workers, among others.
One of the victims in latest incident is a former Accountant-General of the state, Rose Bassey, who served during the tenure of former Govrnor Donald Duke.
Mrs Bassey was reportedly kidnapped alongside three other people at Uyanga-Ikomita on the Calabar-Ogoja Expressway by unknown gunmen.
Sources said that Bassey was abducted on her way from her farm at Ekpri Iko, close to Iwuru in Biase Local Government Area of the state. Her abduction has added to the rising list of persons who have fallen prey to criminal elements due to the absence of security personnel on the road.
Some days ago, Omaga Odo, a former Chairman of the Cross River State Universal Education Board narrowly escaped being kidnapped by armed men at the Uyanga-Okomita axis.
Evangelist Edim Edim Omin, a pastor in one of the new generation churches in the state was not that lucky as he fell victim to men of the underworld.
About three weeks ago, a businessman in Calabar South was kidnapped in his shop and held for over one week. It was the second time within the last three years. He was later released after allegedly paying ransom.
Also, nine men were kidnapped at a failed portion of the Calabar-Ogoja Expressway and the police succeeded in effecting the release of eight of the victims. One of them was unaccounted for and information on his release has yet to be made available.
Similarly, seven health workers, including two medical doctors, were also kidnapped along the road. This prompted the state branch of the Nigerian Medical Association to suspend its services across the state.
The Cross River chapter of the NMA has a policy of withdrawing medical services whenever its members are kidnapped and they activated this policy until their members secured freedom.
The state police public relations officer, DSP Irene Ugbo, failed to respond to inquiries made in respect of the rising wave of kidnapping across the state.
On his part, Governor Ben Ayade has announced a number of other security measures put in place by his administration to tackle the menace.
The governor said, “We have requested the Federal Government to draft more troops to Uyanga Forest and deploy a Tucano Aircraft.
“Additionally, we have activated the homeland security outfit and engaged local hunters to assist in a private paramilitary capacity.”
“The governor added that his administration would also purchase more gunboats and patrol vehicles to protect its waterways and highways.”
He also disclosed that he has activated the automatic security system on the entrance into Calabar to further secure the state.
