For the second time in a week, militants struck yesterday in Akwa Ibom State: they abducted the wife of Hon. Aloysious Etok, who is representing Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Mrs Ekot Comfort was kidnapped at about 10am by seven gunmen who stormed the Old Ring Road, Uyo home of the lawmaker, it was learnt.
“They rode to the lawmaker’s residence in two tinted Toyota Camry cars. And within seconds, they surrounded the compound and commandeered the woman at gun-point into their waiting car and sped off,” a source said.
Before they struck, the militants had sent word to the family, demanding N10 million.
According to a family source, a distraught Etok cancelled all his engagements in Abuja and took the early afternoon flight home “to be part of the negotiation to release his wife”.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mike Ebiware Zuokumor, who confirmed the incident, said his men were already on a manhunt for the militants.
Zuokumor, who assured that the lawmaker’s wife would soon be released, warned of drastic consequences against anybody found culpable.
“We will not leave any stone unturned in our efforts to make the state safe. My men are already on a manhunt for those behind the abduction of the lawmaker’s wife and she will soon be liberated,” Zuokumor said.
Yesterday’s incident came exactly one week after a Julius Berger worker was abducted on the Abak – Uyo Road.
A suspect said to be the mastermind of the Julius Berger official’s abduction was arrested.
He is still being detained at the police headquarters, Ikot Akpanabia.
Security has been strengthened within Uyo, the state capital, with mobile policemen at strategic points.
The government offered N5 million for anyone with information on kidnappers and militants.
Traditional rulers, who aid and abet kidnappers, according to Deputy Governor Patrick Ekpotu, are to be dethroned and prosecuted.
He said police check points would remain to counter militants’ activities.