Kidnapped ex-NYSC DG regains freedom as Akpabio accuses opposition
Posted By webguru on February 8, 2010
(Courtesy of The Punch newspaper)
The former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Major-General Edet Akpan (rtd), who was kidnapped last Sunday by unknown gunmen, has regained his freedom.
Akpan was kidnapped in a church in Nsit Atai Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State by hoodlums, who killed three persons at the same place before whisking away their victim.
Confirming his release on Thursday, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Walter Rugbere, said the retired general was freed by his captors on Wednesday night.
Rugbere said that Akpan was hale and hearty when he was released and had since reunited with his family.
Akpan‘s release coincided with a stakeholders‘ meeting the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, had with about 300 prominent citizens of the state on Wednesday night.
Those who attended the meeting cut across tribe, religion, politics, academia, business and other divides.
Akpabio used the forum to condemn the spate of kidnappings in the state, blaming it on the machinations of the opposition and desperate politicians, who he alleged, had resorted to engaging former militants to cause insecurity and score cheap political points.
The governor cited the sad incident that occurred on January 31 where kidnappers invaded the Qua Iboe Church, Iwok in Nsit Atai Local Government Area, killed a chorister and two others before abducting the former NYSC DG.
He argued that the target of those opposed to his administration was to sabotage the efforts of government in developing the state and create fear among the people.
”I feel deeply sad and distressed about the machinations of the political opposition to damage the image of government and create palpable fear in the state. In the Niger Delta, our state is not a militant group but a peaceful state,” Akpabio said.
He vowed to deal with any politician found to be sponsoring terrorism in the state in order to cause tension and gain cheap political ends.
The governor, who was visibly angry while speaking, expressed regret that some militant groups had found their way to Iwukem in Etim Ekpo, Ika to commit atrocities, adding that some of the militants came in through Obot Akara to carry out criminal activities in the state.
He, however, assured the people of the state that his government would not be intimidated by people who try to fan the embers of disunity, noting that the identities of the sponsors of two kidnappers currently in police net were known to the state government.
