Gunmen on Saturday kidnapped the Principal of Madonna Community Secondary School, Monday Ekoriko, in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The hoodlums reportedly made away with Ekoriko’s SUV and a motorcycle.

Ekoriko’s wife, Menim, while narrating the incident on Sunday, said the armed men stormed the family compound at Udianga Enem, in Etim Ekpo LGA of the state around 7.30pm and went straight to where her husband was sitting.

She said, “I was in the toilet when they arrived and took over strategic places in the compound, while others invaded the house, fished him out and started beating him when he showed resistance. The operation lasted for about two hours.”

The victim’s eldest son, Menyene, said when he learnt of the incident, he rushed down to the village and immediately reported the matter to the Divisional Police Officer, who led some of his men to the compound.

“They took some information from my mom and I as well as inspected the scene and gave assurances that the culprits would be apprehended,” he said.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon, confirmed the incident.

 He said, “We received the information last night and as we speak, the Commissioner of Police has ordered the deployment of a tactical team which the CP himself is supervising and they are closing in on the abductors.”

In another development on Saturday evening, gunmen abducted scores of travellers along the Benin-Owo expressway in Ifon, in the Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The exact number of the victims was yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

However, a source disclosed that the travellers, who were about 32 in number, were travelling in a coaster bus to Benin City, Edo State, from Ondo State, but on getting to the Ifon area, the gunmen appeared from the bush, stopped the vehicle and whisked all the occupants away.

The source said, “Nobody has heard anything about the victims since then.”

Ondo State Security Network Agency also known as Amotekun said its men were currently combing the Benin-Ifon to Owo forest in the state in search of the victims.

Contacted on Sunday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami, said one of the travellers had been rescued.

She said, “We have rescued one of the victims and the person is in our custody. He would help us with details of the incident as well as the figure and the identities of the victims. But our men and other security agencies in the state are still in the forest to rescue other victims.”

Punch