Cross River deputy governor’s father kidnapped

Creek Town, Odukpani Local Government Area in Cross River State early on Friday morning and kidnapped Etubom, Essien Efiok Cobham, the father of the State Deputy Governor, Barrister Efiok Cobham.

Saturday Independent gathered that the attackers stormed the riverine community at about 1.00 am, accompanied by a sniffer dog, and operated until about 1.30am before escaping with Cobham, a kingmaker in Efik kingdom, to an unknown destination through the Calabar River channel.

They gained entry into the family home of the deputy governor’s father after breaking down parts of the house with sustained and heavy gunfire.

There was no resistance at the family home because there was no security presence when the invaders stormed the residence and abducted Cobham who is in his 80s.

Some witnesses in the community who refused to be quoted said the gunmen also stormed the family compound of National Director of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr. Ekpenyong Ita, but could not gain entry into the residence as they were challenged and repelled.

Following the incident, palpable fear has enveloped the community, more so as there is increased presence of police and other security personnel.

Public Relations Officer of the Cross River State Police Command, Hogan Bassey, confirmed the attack on the community and the kidnap of the deputy governor’s father.

Bassey said the gunmen could not gain entry into the family home of the top security officer because they were challenged there.

The spokesman told Saturday Independent that the Commissioner of Police, Kola Sodipo, led a team of policemen to visit Creek Town and ascertain the true situation of things and to see, firsthand, the level of damage done to the residences that were attacked.

He said the police have commenced investigation into the matter.

Efforts to get officials of the state government to comment on the matter did not yield any result as the Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Effiong Okon, who spoke on phone told Saturday Independent he would get back to the newspaper.

He had not done that at press time.