Gunmen have kidnapped the owner of Hezbollah Shopping Mall in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Samuel Ekerenam, killing his driver, while the police officer attached to him escaped with gunshot injuries.
It was gathered that the incident occurred last weekend, at about 10 pm when staff working at the mall were about to close after the day’s sales.
An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, said the gunmen intercepted the victim and started shooting sporadically to scare away residents of the area, shooting the driver dead on the spot before the owner of the mall was whisked away, leaving the police officer in the pool of his own blood.
He said the gunmen trailed the mall owner from his house and intercepted him at the mall where he had gone to close the day’s transactions with his workers.
“It was a surprise to everybody when we heard the gunshots. We don’t know how his police escort though seriously wounded escaped,” the eyewitness recounted.
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Family sources stated that the mission of the gunmen remains unknown as they haven’t established contact with them to ask for ransom.
“Three days after the ugly incident, the family has not established contact with the suspected kidnappers. We don’t know the fate of the victim till now,” a family source disclosed.
Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Timfon John said the police is on top of the situation.
“The state Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, has zero tolerance for crime and he has since deployed tactical operatives to comb for the abducted man,” she said.
