A Radio/Television broadcaster working with the Cross River State Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC), Mr Peter Etim aka godfather is yet to regain his freedom a month and some days after he was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in the state.
Mr Etim was reportedly kidnapped a month and some days ago, while going to work with a view to opening the CRBC Radio/Television stations at IBB road in Calabar.
The victim was abducted in front of his house by unknown gunmen before 6am. An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity said, “He was supposed to have opened the station that Friday morning, a month and some days ago, but was kidnapped in front of his house in Calabar South local government area when he was driving out.
“Some gunmen in Police uniform accosted him and took him with his vehicle to an unknown destination. The kidnappers had been communicating with the family” he said.
A week after he was kidnapped, his vehicle was recovered on the roadside in Biase local government area of the State, about eighty kilometres from Calabar.
An eyewitness who declined mentioning her name said that the vehicle was vandalized, “It was recovered by the police in Biase local government area of the state” she stated.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Ms Irene Ugbo confirmed the recovery of the vehicle, “The car is in the custody of the police but we are yet to rescue the victim. The police is working assiduously to ensure that he is released,” she stated.
When our correspondent visited the corporation on Monday, some workers were seen discussing the kidnap of their colleagues on low tone.
Speaking to our correspondent on Monday, the general manager of the corporation (CRBC) Mrs. Teresa Essien said, “I reported the matter to my boss, Governor Ben Ayade, and he directed his Chief Security Officer (CSO) to handle the matter.
“In fact, the CSO was on it and the ransom was reduced from N15m to N300, 000. The corporation contributed and the money was handed over to the family for onward delivery to the alleged kidnappers.
“However, the son came and said the kidnappers demanded for additional N500, 000 and that he was going to handle it. We left it at that and he has not come back to brief us” she regretted.
Some workers who pleaded that their names should not be mentioned told our correspondent that they have missed their colleagues greatly, “We have missed him greatly.
“We missed his baritone voice whenever he reads news and anchors any program on air, what are they keeping him for? they queried. Others asked, “Are you sure he is still alive? If yes, he must be the first kidnapped victim that had stayed so long in the hands of kidnappers for over a month and some days”.
Consequently, when our correspondent contacted the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Ms Irene Ugbo on phone on Monday, she said was at a meeting and unable to answer or comment on any issue.
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