Fear grips Calabar South residents, as kidnappers abduct businessman

From Judex Okoro, Calabar

Palpable fear ha  gripped  residents of Calabar South as gunmen stormed the  University of Cross River State (UNICROS) junction, and abducted a businessman, Mr. Bassey from his shop.

Investigations showed that in the last couple of months, kidnappers have been  operating within  Anantiga, Mbukpa, and Beach axis, kidanping and collecting ransom from residents even when armed  Soldiers have been depolyed to the area. Some residents, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of being attacked by  the gunmen,who they believed are staying in  the  nearby creeks, said the marauders usually  invade the Beach market at Anantigha, to cart away food stuffs and other items , including money  from traders,and zoom off to their enclaves.

A resident,  John Nfon, said the kidnap of Bassey has sent some shivers down the spine of  the reidents.

Nfon, 46, said kidannpers, armed to the teeth, stormed Ekpo Abasi/UNICROS junction, on Saturday night,and headed straight to Mr, Bassey shop and shot sporadically to scare passers-by before taking him away. According to him, Bassey resisted the kidnappers, who came in a Toyota Camry car, and a mini bus, but he was overpowered by the criminals who outnumbered  and outbraved him.

Family source revealed that the abduction was the second time  in about two years that the businessman was Kidnapped. The source said the gunmen arrived at 10:30pm when Bassey had just closed from business  and was standing with his family when they struck and his neigbhours took to their heels for safety.

A family member , who did not want his name in print, said the abductors were yet to establish contact with them, praying that their bread wimner, would  returns home unhurt.

Bassey is a native is Ndupo Ise in Nsit Ibom local government area of Akwa Ibom State