The victim was kidnapped by three-armed hoodlums at his lounge, a popular sit-out along Oron Road in Uyo. The gunmen reportedly stormed the venue at about 9:00pm on Sunday night, opening fire on customers in the lounge, after which the Senator was taken away while several customers at the bar were injured during the attack. The armed men stormed the sit-out with a Toyota Camry car and shot sporadically forcing customers and other guests to scamper for safety before whisking the victim away.

An eye witness who craved anonymity confirmed the incident to Channels Television.

“He was later whisked away by the gunmen in a Toyota Camry car to an unknown destination,” the source said.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Odiko Macdon, also confirmed the kidnapping to Channels Television.

He said, “The command is in receipt of the report and investigation is ongoing to get to the root of the matter”.

The police spokesman explained that the command will issue an official statement soon.

Changing Pattern?

While kidnapping for ransom is common in most parts of Nigeria, especially in the northern region, gunmen have in recent weeks began targeting political office holders, their wives, children and relatives.

On Thursday, gunmen who are sometimes referred to as bandits, whisked away the younger sister of the Deputy Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Shehu Dalhatu Tafoki.

The incident came hours after the wife and two children of the lawmaker representing Bakori Constituency in the Katsina State House of Assembly, Dr. Ibrahim Kurami were abducted.