Shopping mall owner abducted in Akwa Ibom — Police

The Akwa Ibom Police Command has confirmed the abduction of Mr. Samuel Ekerenam, owner of Hephzibah Shopping Mall, located on Afaha Uqua Obok-Idim Road in Eket Local Government Area.

ASP Timfon John, the State Police Public Relations Officer, revealed in an interview on Tuesday that the incident occurred on Saturday at about 10:55 p.m. at the victim’s shopping mall.

She stated that gunmen attacked, killing Ekerenam’s personal driver and overpowering his police escort before abducting him.

“The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Eribo, and his tactical commanders have visited the scene of the crime, and efforts are in top gear to rescue the victim unhurt,” John said.

This is not the first attack on the family. In 2019, Mrs. Glory Ekerenam, the victim’s wife, was kidnapped in Eket and later rescued from a kidnapper’s den in Ikot Ubo, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.

A family source disclosed that Ekerenam had just returned from work on the day of the attack, adding that the police escort is currently in critical condition at an undisclosed hospital.