A former commissioner for Women Affairs in Cross River State has been kidnapped.
Ejesgist News gathered that, Mrs Gertrude Njar was kidnapped in the early hours of Wednesday along Mayne Avenue by Atumunu by gunmen dressed in military attire.
A former driver and security guard for Mr. Peter Agba, the current commissioner for industry for Cross River State, were detained for attempting to kidnap him.
Assuma Vincent, Gideon Luzan Timothy, and Obi Ayim Joseph, formerly Egba’s driver, were reportedly caught after their attempt to start the kidnapping failed, Ejesgist News gathered.
They were taken into custody by the Nigeria Police Force’s Anti-Cultism and Kidnapping Squad (Dragon Squad), a special operations division under the command of SP Ogini Chukwuma.
Findings showed that the Commissioner had reported the incident to the Police in November 2022 after his security guy, Mr. Victor Bassey, said that his former driver and gate guard had contacted him to “permit” their kidnapping of his boss.
A security source who pleaded anonymity said that after much pressure on Mr Bassey by the former driver and Security guard, he refused to succumb.
The source said: “Out of anger for not paving the way for them to kidnap his boss, they abducted him to an unknown location where they tortured him for 12 hours and asked him to lure his boss to their location but he said they should kill him because he can’t do such.
“He was later released but they kept on persisting by sending various threats via text messages to him. On January 29, the Dragon Squad got a call and swung into action.
“During covert operation carried out to Dragon squad led by SP Ogini Chukwuma, the former driver, Obi Ayim Joseph; former security man, Maurice Ibangha; Gideon Luzan Timothy and Asuma Vincent were apprehended at their hideout”
Ejesgist Newsfurther gathered that a locally made pistol was recovered from the suspects, including criminal charms as well as various handsets.
Confirming the arrest, the Police spokesperson in Cross River State, SP Irene Ugbo investigations are ongoing in a bid to get to the root of the matter.
Peter Egba was the former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry before Governor Ben Ayade split it into the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Industry – headed by Barr. Rosemary Archibong and Egba respectfully.
