Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar: As fear and insecurity continues to grip citizens and residents of Cross River, a third Republic Senator Patrick Ani, has joined the increasing number of persons kidnapped within the past six months.
The state had recorded series of cases ranging from armed robbery and kidnapping with ease.
Just few weeks ago, five expatriates working with a multi million Naira cement company in the state were kidnapped and released after paying an undisclosed ransom amount.
Cross River is known for its peaceful environment when the former governor Donald Duke and Senator Liyel Implement were in office.
This development earned the state as a haven for tourism and the cleanest state in the country.
Ani represented Cross River South under the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) between 1991 and 1992.
He was kidnapped Wednesday in his herbal farm in Akpabuyo local government in the outskirt of Calabar .
Confirming the story, Police Public Relations Office, ASP Irene Ugbo , said the matter has been incidented and efforts are being made to track down those behind it.
She said “we have sent our officers and men out there for a search to track them down.
Meanwhile, one of Ani’s staff, name withheld also confirmed the story to deltanewsroom.com. correspondent in an interview.
“We the staff present when it happened have reported the matter the
e Akpobuyo police station,he said”.
Victims of kidnappers and armed med robbery incidents in the state have spent millions of Naira to free themselves within this period.
The police and other security operatives in the state were yet to find a lasting solution to this increasing menace in the state.
Residents and foreigners now live in fear even in day time.
