Unknown Gunmen Kidnap Two Expatriates, Polytechnic Proprietor in Akwa Ibom

*State police commissioner leads team on rescue mission
Okon Bassey in Uyo
Two suspected expatriate oil company workers and a Polytechnic proprietor have been kidnapped in Akwa Ibom State by gunmen.
It was gathered that the kidnap of the foreigners has forced the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Donald Awunah, to deploy senior police officers to the local government area on rescue mission.
Sources told THISDAY that the two white men were abducted from their hotel room in Eket, Eket Local Government Area of the state yesterday morning.
The proprietor of Sure Foundation Polytechnic, Dr. Idongesit Udom, sources said, was kidnapped last Sunday at Ukanafun Local Government Area of the state.

The source maintained that Udom was abducted by the gunmen while on his way to the church, the Qua Iboe Church at Idung Nneke.
By the time of filing in this report, the identities of the white men could not be ascertained and the unknown gunmen were yet to be apprehended as there was no exchange of communication with the company the expatriates worked for.
Reacting to the kidnap saga, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Chukwu Okechukwu, confirmed the report, saying the kidnap of the two white men occurred in the early hours of yesterday.

The PPRO affirmed that the foreigners were kidnapped from their hotel room in Eket, saying security operatives were working around the clock to get clue of the movement of the kidnappers.

According to him, the Commissioner of Police yesterday led a team of senior police officers to Eket and its environs towards securing the release of the foreigners while similar team moved to Ukanafun council area to rescue the Sure Foundation Polytechnic proprietor.

According to him, “We are aware of the incident. The two white men were kidnapped from their hotel room. As at the moment, we do not know their workplace and country of origin, but in the course of investigation I will let you know these.

“I am assuring you that efforts are on top gear to rescue them. As I am talking to you, the Commissioner of Police, Awunah, and some other senior police officers are on ground in Eket and its environs searching for the two white men and the school owner in Ukanafun.”

The PPRO admitted that operatives were actually yet to ascertain their place of work and country of origin of the abducted white men, saying investigations were on top gears for the proper identification of the foreigners.