Gunmen Kidnap 4 Foreign Nationals, 2 Others in Cross River

• Driver killed

Bassey Inyang in Calabar

Four foreign nationals were kidnapped about 7am on Wednesday while they were being conveyed to work at United Cement Company Limited (UNICEM),factory in Mfamosing, Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River.

Apart from the foreign nationals, two other workers said to be Nigerians were also kidnapped.

However, it is strongly suspected that another foreign national, a white man, escaped the kidnappers drag- net during the incident.

It was learnt that the driver of bus that was conveying the foreign nationals, all white skinned persons, and other staff of Unicem, an arm of Lafarge Group, was shot and killed during the incident.

The identity of the driver, believed to be a Nigerian, could not be established by THISDAY as at press time.

The incident occurred at Akansoko community in Akpabuyo Local Government Area,near Calabar,after the kidnappers waylaid the bus carrying them to the Unicem factory.

A member of staff of the company who pleaded not to be mentioned gave an account of his experience of the attack by the gunmen.

“This morning as we were going to work, when we got to the bridge along Jonathan bypass, at Akansoko village, to be precise, militants attacked the vehicle conveying MacMahon company staff, killed the driver and kidnapped four white men. But one white man is believed to have escaped.”

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