Unidentified gunmen abducted Gabriel Odu-Orji, the Cross River Commissioner for Water Resources, at Effionawan Street on Mayne Avenue in Calabar South on Sunday.
An eyewitness, James Ibri, said that five gunmen kidnapped Mr. Odu-Orji as he was about to enter a restaurant.
“At around 12 noon today, I was in front of a restaurant waiting for a friend when the Commissioner for Water Resources stepped down and was approaching the restaurant,” Mr. Ibri said. “Before he could get into the restaurant, some five well-armed men came in a blue Audi, parked their car by the road side and ordered the commissioner into his car and drove away.”
He added that the gunmen wore masks to conceal their identities.
ASP Irene Ugbo, the State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview.
“We have received a complaint about the abduction of the Commissioner for Water Resources. He was kidnapped and taken away in his Prado Jeep today,” she said. “We have deployed our men from the command and those from the intelligence department to all routes in the state with a view to releasing him.
“As we speak, all checkpoints are thoroughly manned by our men to ensure that he is released safely,” Ms. Ugbo said.
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