NPF rescue eight passengers kidnapped in C/River, dismiss herdsmen role
Police in Cross River has ensured the release of eight of the nine travellers kidnapped on Ogoja-Ikom Highway on Tuesday.
Police spokesperson in Cross River, SP Irene Ugbo, told Odogwublog in Calabar on Wednesday that before their liberation, the ninth traveller had survived to escape from the abductors
She also dismissed the insinuation that the attack was carried out by herdsmen.
“Eight of the victims are now in safe hands while the ninth person escaped.
“Reports that the kidnap was carried out by herdsmen are untrue; it was purely an armed robbery incident,’’ she said.
Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Sule Balarabe, who confirmed the abduction of the passengers on Tuesday, could not give the specific number of victims on the day of abduction.
Balarabe had immediately deployed a tactical team, including men of the police anti-kidnap squad to the area.
An eyewitness had also informed Odogwublog on Tuesday that nine persons were abducted by the gunmen on the highway between Okomita and Uyangha communities, near Calabar.
The gunmen were said to have emerged from the forest and shot at vehicles to force them to stop.
The eyewitness said some passengers in the vehicles targeted sustained gunshot injuries while the assailants moved others into the forest.
