BREAKING: GUNMEN KIDNAPS APOSTOLIC PASTOR AT IKOT AKPA IDEM, UKANAFUN

                    BY NDIFREKE JACOB.

Unknown gunmen suspected to be members of a kidnap confraternity, on Monday, kidnapped Pastor Mfon Udoneke, who oversees Ikot Akpa Idem Area of The Apostolic Church.

Reliable sources told Factsreporter that the pastor was abducted at The Apostolic Church premises at Ikot Akpa Idem, where he lives, in the presence of his family members around 5am while preparing for Women’s fellowship prayer meeting in the church.

Ikot Akpa Idem village, which is in Southern Afaha in Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, has recently become one of the worst hit villages in wave of crimes in Ukanafun, which started in early 2017, resulting in killing of no fewer than 200 people.

Udoneke, a cousin to Dr Idongesit Udom, the proprietor of Sure-Foundation Polytechnic, whose right hand was amputated by gunmen after being in kidnappers den for one month last year, is from neighbouring Idung Nneke village.

As at the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of the cleric is unknown, as, it was gathered that the kidnappers have yet to establish contacts with Udoneke’s family or the church.

“The family and the church are in a state of confusion right now, because the kidnappers have yet to establish contact with the church or the family as per their demands and where the abducted priest is being kept,” a source, who pleaded anonymity, told Factsreporter.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. MacDon Oguche, said he had yet to be briefed on the incident.

He promised to get in touch with the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area on the matter.

It was learnt that the Monday abduction of the pastor, which preceded many other abductions in the past, occurred barely two days after stakeholders from the area met with the security agencies at the state police headquarters, Ikot-Akpan-Abia, to find lasting solution to the frequent incidents of killing and kidnapping in Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun LGAs.

Stakeholders have condemned violent attacks, which they described as ‘very common’ in the area.