SaharaReporters learnt that Emmanuel Ironbar, Chief of Staff to Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, had allegedly bribed cult members to target protesters participating in the nationwide hunger protest in Calabar, including Jonathan Ugbal.
The Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement in Cross Rivers State, Jonathan Ugbal, has been kidnapped and taken to an unknown location.
SaharaReporters learnt that Jonathan Ugbal was badly beaten and handcuffed by armed men before being taken away.
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters learnt that Emmanuel Ironbar, Chief of Staff to Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, had allegedly bribed cult members to target protesters participating in the nationwide hunger protest in Calabar, including Jonathan Ugbal.
This development follows a recent report by SaharaReporters, which revealed a video of Ironbar attempting to dissuade members of the Bible Crusade Christian Ministries in Calabar from joining the upcoming anti-hunger and anti-misgovernance protests in Nigeria.
According to sources, the state government, through Ironbar, bribed leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) with N2 million to influence select pastors to use their sermons to dissuade their congregations from joining the #EndBadGovernance protests.
However, sources close to the Chief of Staff told SaharaReporters on Wednesday evening that he felt embarrassed over the reports linking him with disbursement of funds to clergyman to stop the protests.
The Cross River Chapter of the CAN which initially denied that it was given money to dissuade members from protesting, later agreed that some money was given to them but was only for “transport".
One of the sources told SaharaReporters that on Sunday, Mr. Ironbar attended service at the BCCM Porterhouse Assembly where he said Biafrans should stay in their states to protest and donated N100,000 to the church.
The Pastor, J. I. Okoro said the current administration is their government and so no church member will protest.
However, following the continued mobilisation of people to come out and protest on Thursday, the source said some people including a journalist, and the Cross River State Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Jonathan Ugbal were listed for attack.
According to the source, the offences of the individuals targeted for attack are because they are associated with #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore.
"All the cult groups are paid money with the aim to come out and stop peaceful protesters tomorrow," the source said, adding, "Someone just said Sowore boys are in town. The response was they are strangers and the least mistake they make, they will be gunned down."
The source said, Ironbar, a suspected member of the black Axe Confraternity was funding the action as the plan is, "to disrupt the protest and blame it on the peaceful protesters."
The state had in a recent meeting blamed protesters for the arson that followed the October 2020 #EndSARS protests despite evidence showing that the arsonists were backed by state actors.
When SaharaReporters reached out to the Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Jonathan Ugbal, he confirmed that he had been receiving many calls over the plan to attack him or probably kill him.
He said, "I don't know who and who were paid to attack me and protesters but definitely, if anything goes wrong the state government should be held accountable.
“I have been to the police, and Department of State Services (DSS) this evening (Wednesday evening) invited me. The police commissioner was also calling me to come to his office this night. I don't know whether they will arrest me but I know I haven't done anything wrong. I am exercising my rights to ventilate my frustration as well as other Nigerians."
When SaharaReporters reached the State Commissioner of Police, CP Autine Grimah, he said that he was not aware of his arrest.
He, however, added that Ugbal’s disappearance is not serious, suggesting he knew something about it.
"Don't worry yourself, the arrest is not a serious thing. Don't worry yourself," he said.
Meanwhile, efforts made by SaharaReporters to speak with Mr Ironbar were unsuccessful as he did not answer his calls or reply to a text message sent to him, asking for his reaction to the allegations.