Armed gunmen suspected to be cultists terrorising parts of Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo local government areas were said to be responsible for the kidnapped.
Ofonime Udodung, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Ukanafun local government area of Akwa Ibom State has been kidnapped.
It was learnt that Ofonime was abducted on Tuesday evening at about 7pm by some unidentified hoodlums who wielded AK-47 rifles at Ikot Akpa Ntuen community in Ukanafun council.
Armed gunmen suspected to be cultists terrorising parts of Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo local government areas were said to be responsible for the kidnapped.
According to an eye witness, the criminals laid ambush in a bus a few metres to the place, monitoring their target until the coast became clear for them to swoop on him.
“The former PDP ward executive member was abducted at his business premises opposite the Government Primary School, where he buys palm kernel from petty sellers for onward transmission to the nearby Aba, Abia State, where he in turn sells to big merchants for industrial production,” he explained.
He said the police from Ukanafun Division had visited the scene of the incident shortly after the unknown gunmen had driven their victim away in a bus.
According to a family source, no contact has yet been established to ascertain their motive “whether it is connected to the politics of 2023 or for ransom.”
He expressed worry over the resurgence of kidnapping cases after Governor Udom Emmanuel had in the run-up to the 2019 elections impressed it on them to lay down their arms in amnesty deal.