Gunmen have abducted Samuel Ekerenam, a staff member of Chevron Nigeria Ltd. and owner of Hephzibah Shopping Mall in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.
The attack occurred on Saturday night, when the assailants also killed Ekerenam’s personal driver and injured his police escort.
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Timfon John, the Akwa Ibom Police spokesperson, confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday. According to John, the abduction took place around 10:55 p.m. at Hephzibah Shopping Mall, located along Afaha Uqua Obok-Idim Road in the Eket Local Government Area.
“The gunmen killed the driver and attacked the police escort before abducting Samuel Ekerenam,” John said. “The Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, along with his tactical commanders, have visited the crime scene, and efforts are underway to rescue the victim safely.”
A family source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that Ekerenam had just returned home from work when he was abducted. “His police escort is in critical condition and currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the state,” the source revealed.
This abduction follows a similar incident in October 2019, when Ekerenam’s wife, Glory, was also kidnapped in Eket. She was held for several days before being rescued from a kidnapper’s hideout in Ikot Ubo, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the kidnapping and have vowed to take all necessary steps to secure Ekerenam’s release.
