Former Cross River Commissioner, Patrick Ugbe Kidnapped

Bassey Inyang in Calabar

A former Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Cross River State, Mr. Patrick Ugbe, was kidnapped thursday night in Calabar by dare devil gun-wielding men.

Ugbe also served during the administration of Governor Liyel Imoke, from 2007 to 2015, as his Chief Press Secretary, and later Commissioner for Information,

Though information about the kidnap of Ugbe is sketchy, it was gathered that Ugbe was abducted at about 8.30p.m. close to the junction leading to the Calabar International Convention Centre (CCCI), while driving back to town after attending a town hall meeting for stakeholders in the state, and the acting President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

It was gathered that Ugbe who is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the only privately-owned radio station in Cross River State, Hit 95.9FM, was abducted in front of some personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) who attempted to foil the abduction, but could not rescue him because they were not armed.

A source at the station who responded to enquire on the development, craved anonymity, but in a depressed voice, said: “I am confused. I have also heard that our boss has been abducted.”

Attempts to get the police to comment on the issue failed as the spokesperson of the police in the state, Irene Ugbo, did not pick her calls, and did not respond to text messages to her phone number.