Fake Police, NDLEA Men Steal Two-Year-Old
Mother of Kidnapped Boy |
Four unidentified gunmen on Monday in Ikot Odiong, Eket Local Government
Area, Akwa Ibom State, stole a two-year-old boy, Idaraobong Isaiah.
The gunmen, who arrived at one Mr. Solomon Assam’s house, near Eket Central
Market about 5am, were said to have disguised as a combined team of the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Nigeria Police Force.
It was gathered that the gunmen claimed they were in the house to investigate
an alleged sales of marijuana.
Residents of the area told our correspondent that the men pretended to be
searching for the alleged narcotic, beaming searchlight on every nook and
cranny of the house.
Idaraobong’s mother, Mrs. Sarah Isaiah, said she and her family were surprised
to see the gunmen in their apartment, especially when they claimed to be
searching for marijuana.
She said she told the gunmen that they did not have any anything to do with
cigarette, let alone sales of marijuana.
She said, “The four men broke into our apartment. They accused us of possessing and
selling Indian hemp. They asked if we did not know that the product was
outlawed; they threatened to jail us if a trace of marijuana was found in
our house.
“We tried to reason with them that there was no such business, but the
gunmen insisted on searching the house. They beamed their searchlights on
different rooms.
“When these men saw my child on the bed, they snatched him and took him
away with them. They threatened to shoot any of us who dared stand in their
way.”
The village chairman of Ikot Odiong village, Mr. Ita Ita, called on Akwa Ibom
State Government and security operatives to step up action aimed at cracking
down the child kidnapping ring that had been terrorising many communities in
the state. He added that the ring specialised in kidnapping children from five
months to eight years.
“There must be an urgent action by the government and police to stop these
miscreants who are terrorising the communities and kidnapping little
children almost on a daily basis.
“How can such act continue without any action? We can no longer keep
silent. Where are they taking these children to? None of them have
returned alive or dead,’’ the angry community leader said.
A youth leader from Effoi, Mr. Joe Bassey, said that more than 15 children had
been kidnapped in the neighbourhood alone within the past two months.
He said there were similar reports in other parts of Eket, including Nsit
Ibium, Onna, Esit Eket and Oron.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State Command, Mr. Etim
Dickson, confirmed the child’s stealing, but said the police had initiated a
manhunt for the culprits and the possible rescue of the victim.
He said, “One Glory Solomon of Ikot Odiong Village reported that while she was
sleeping in her house, two hoodlums broke into the house and stole her
sister’s son, named Shedrack Isaiah, aged two years.
“Police have initiated manhunt for the rescue of the victim and possible
arrest of culprits.”
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