Gunmen kidnap village head in A’Ibom

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers, yesterday, abducted the Village Head of Ikot Edet in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The victim, Chief Mfon Udoessien, a brother-in-law to a former Head of the Civil Service in the state, was said to have been picked up from his palace by the kidnappers after […]

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers, yesterday, abducted the Village Head of Ikot Edet in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The victim, Chief Mfon Udoessien, a brother-in-law to a former Head of the Civil Service in the state, was said to have been picked up from his palace by the kidnappers after a gun battle with security agents drafted to the area.

A resident of the area, identified as simply as Eno, told our correspondent that the monarch, a retired primary school headmaster and a former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in the area, was possibly abducted due to his stance against cultism.

He said Udoessien had been waging war against the activities of gunmen who had already kidnapped not less than eight persons in the village.

He added that kidnappers were yet to contact the victim’s family.

“We think the kidnappers came after the village head because of how he has been opposing their activities,” he said.

The police spokesperson in the state, Odiko Macdon, confirmed the kidnap, stating that it occurred in the morning.

He said a meeting of the local government chairmen and the security chiefs had been convened and far-reaching decisions taken to address the security challenges.

He said, “Security measures are in place; we just concluded a meeting with all the local government chairmen and the security chiefs in the state. That issue came up during the meeting; it is being addressed.

“The monarch’s kidnap happened this morning and our men ran into action immediately. The DPO led a team to the place.”