Gunmen have laid siege to some communities in Oruk Anam and Mkpat Enin local government areas of Akwa Ibom State on Sunday and kidnapped a Catholic priest and 18 others.
It was learnt that residents of the areas and other adjoining villages are being robbed daily while shop owners, civil servants and local businessmen are being kidnapped for ransom.
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The Catholic priest, Rev Fr Alphonsus Uboh, is the Parish Priest of X Parish located at Ikot Abasi Akpan on Ekparakwa-Etinan Road in Mkpat Enin LGA.
It was gathered that the gunmen arrived the church premises at 7pm on Sunday night in a motorcycle convoy, forced their way into the church premises and whisked the priest away amid gunshots.
Investigation revealed that the Catholic priest, alongside 18 other victims, have so far been kidnapped in the axes between November 2021 and May 2022.
Confirming the kidnapping of the priest, police spokesman in the state, SP Odiko Mcdon, said they were working to tackle the activities of gunmen in the area.
He said, “We have received reports from that area and we are working on them.”
