A former Permanent Secretary and the Chairman of St Johns Catholic Church council, Abak, Akwa Ibom State, Ignatius Brown, has been kidnapped by gunmen.
Ignatius was abducted a few metres away from his home while returning from a church meeting on Monday evening.
According to sources, the gunmen trailed the victim from the church along Abak-Ikot Ekpene Road and overtook his driver few metres away from his house.
Having overpowered the driver, they were said to have shot sporadically to scare away other vehicles and commuters on the road.
It was gathered that they bundled the driver out, hijacked the vehicle and sped away with him lying down on the floor of the car.
The car was later abandoned along the Abak-Ekparakwa Road after disappearing with the victim to an unknown destination.
Confirming the incident on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Odiko Macdon, said that one suspect has been arrested and is helping the police with necessary information to track down the other kidnappers.
“We have received that report already, and as we speak, preliminary investigation is ongoing.
“The Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durusinmi, has detailed the officer-in-charge of kidnapping and other tactical teams to ensure that the victim is successfully rescued and reunited with his family,” he said.
“Based on the CP’s instructions, a lot had already been done. We have one person in our custody who is helping us with the necessary information, and I believe that the kidnapped victim will soon regain his freedom.”
