Ayade’s adviser rescued 5 hours after abduction

Police in Cross River have rescued a special adviser to the state government in a record five hours after he was abducted on Tuesday morning.

Oscar Ofuka, who advises Gov Ben Ayade on cocoa development, was abducted around 9.30am by gunmen numbering up to 10 on the premises of the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC) while attending the flagoff of “cocoa event” by the state’s deputy governor Ivara Esu.

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Cross River police commissioner Sikiru Akande had said the command was working to secure Ofuka’s rescue.

Hours later, he told Daily Trust, “We have succeeded in rescuing Mr Ofuka few hours after he was kidnapped.

“You journalists have been blaming us. Now its time to commend us. Our men are up and able”.

Police said Ofuka was rescued around 2.30pm on the same day.

According to sources, the gunmen that abducted Ofuka are believed to have come from the Force headquarters, Abuja, who allegedly acted on a petition against Ofuka.

A CRBC journalist, Sunny Inah, who witnessed the incident said Ofuka was accosted on the premises by two men in police uniform.

“When Ofuka attempted to resisted, I saw other men all numbering ten came into the premises with guns and forced him into their waiting red coloured Ford Ranger

“They threatened to shoot some of us who tried to help Ofuka while the General Manager of the station, Maurice Inok, and another staff, Esther Ofem, were pushed away.”

Two months ago, Ofuka held a press conference in Calabar alleging that a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police in the state has severally sponsored attacks against him, accusing him of not allocating cocoa plots in the state to influential persons.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the release of Ofuka