DPO’s daughter kidnapped, DVC escapes with bullet wounds

Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academics, Cross River University of Technology, Prof Gabriel Ikpi, is currently recuperating from gunshot wounds sustained after he escaped being kidnapped.

The incident, which happened over the weekend, had thrown the university community into panic.

Also, an unidentified daughter of a former Police Public Relations Officer in Cross River State, Mr. John Umoh, was kidnapped in Calabar on Monday.

This came just as the Executive Secretary of Obudu Urban Development Authority, Mr. Canice Atsu, was on the same day abducted by unknown gunmen in his Obudu home.

According to Southern City News, while the deputy vice chancellor was said to be recuperating from gunshot wounds, the abductors of Umoh’s daughter had demanded N20m, even as the police officer offered to pay N115,000 to the kidnappers.

A source, who spoke on Ikpi’s kidnap attempt, said the deputy vice chancellor escaped from the car after the gunmen had cornered him.

The source said, “The suspects attempted to kidnap the deputy vice chancellor for ransom, but luck was on the side of the Professor of Agriculture as he successfully fought his abductors.

“He escaped in the end with a gunshot on his leg. He is believed to be traumatised, but recuperating in the hospital.”

On the kidnap of Umoh’s daughter, a source said the policeman, who is currently the DPO in charge of Mbo Division in Akwa Ibom State, had offered to pay N115,000 but the kidnappers rejected.

It was learnt that DPO Umoh’s wife also sustained bullet wounds in the encounter with the abductors in Calabar. 

A source said, “The gunmen had a gun duel with the DPO before they succeeded in taking the daughter. I understand that the wife was shot when she struggled to save her daughter. She is said to be in the hospital.

“The kidnappers have demanded N20m but the DPO could not raise the money. He was only able to raise N115,000 and it is not clear if the abductors have collected that money."

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo, said, “For the case of the Obudu kidnap, no official report was made to the police, but the commissioner has asked the DPO to monitor and investigate the situation. For that of Umoh’s daughter, we are on top of the situation.”