Medical doctor, Trader kidnapped in Calabar

A medical doctor and an Igbo trader have been abducted in Calabar, the Cross River State capital by suspected kidnappers. One of the victims, Dr Itoro Asanga, a medical doctor with University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, was kidnapped at his residence while Chief Johnson Obiokpo was picked up at his shop on Mt Zion Street, both in Calabar South.

The dare devil gang was said to have struck at the two locations between 8 and 10 pm on Wednesday. A witness, Thomas Akpan, saidthe hoodlums who were five, bought corns while waiting for their target and even chatted with other people who came to buy not knowing that the‎ ‘visitors’ were up to some mischief.

At 8pm, Itoro returned and tried to park at his No 12 Amika Utuk, off Goldie Street when the kidnappers struck and whisked him away.

Akpan said: “The kidnappers came around 6pm and sat where one lady sells roasted corn. Nobody knew they had a devilish mission.

“So, when Doctor came back he tried to park the ambulance and suddenly the criminals moved in quickly and shot sporadically into the air to scare residents away. And within split seconds, they dragged Itoro into the ambulance and sped off still shooting.”

For Chief Thomas Akpan, another witness Nfon Obong, said: “Around 7pm, four hefty young men stormed the supermarket and moved straight to where the Chief stayed and ordered him to go into their black tinted jeep parked outside.”

“Chief Akpan quietly entered and they drove off to an unknown destination and till now they have not called to know what next to do. As a result, people now live in fear.”

Speaking on the incidents, the Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo said they were aware of the doctor’s kidnap and working round to track down the criminals.