Gunmen kidnap Apostle John Okoriko, demand N100m ransom in Akwa Ibom

Gunmen have kidnapped the founder and president of Solid Rock Kingdom Church, Apostle John Okoriko, in the church premises at Ibekwe Akpan Nya in Mkpat Enin Local Council of Akwa Ibom State.
   
Family sources said the abductors have established contact and demanded N100 million ransom.
 
An eyewitness told The Guardian that the gunmen invaded the pastor’s residence located in the church premises.
 
According to the witness, the gunmen scaled through the fence and forced their way into the sitting room, started shooting sporadically and dragged the octogenarian outside, scaring others and whisking him away.
 

He said the police were contacted immediately and some youths joined police to comb the bush in search of the man of God all to no avail.
 
The witness explained that the incident which occurred at about 5:00p.m. on Tuesday, has thrown the church and entire Ibekwe community into panic as the whereabouts of the pastor remains unknown.
    
Recall that kidnappers have laid siege to Ekparakwa in OrukAnam Local Council and neighbouring villages in Mkpat Enin Council, where more than 15 people have been abducted and released after ransoms were paid to the hoodlums.
   
It is also gathered that others who could not afford the ransom were killed as decomposing bodies were found in farmlands within Ekparakwa and Mkpat Enin axis.

A medical doctor was also kidnapped while operating on a patient in the theatre at Health Care Centre Ikot Ekpa in the community last month and regained freedom after an undisclosed ransom was paid.
 
Confirming the incident,  Akwa Ibom Police Command, assured the public that the kidnappers would be brought to book.
   
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police (SP), Odiko Macdon,  said the command has received a report on the incident and the  Commissioner of Police Andrew Amiengheme has ordered an investigation in the matter .
 
He noted  that a crime has been committed,  adding  that the police command has been working assiduously to unravel the crime and bring perpetrators to book.