Just three days after gunmen tragically killed Mr. Akpang Ayambem and abducted four others from Nde Three Corners village in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State on Christmas Day, another kidnapping and killing has shaken the community.
Early on Thursday, December 29, 2023, at around 7:00 am, assailants stormed the village, located roughly 200 kilometres from the state capital Calabar. They abducted an unnamed man and shot a baby, tragically ending its life.
A source, who wished to remain anonymous over fears for his life, told LEADERSHIP that the incident occurred in the same location as the Christmas Day attack. The source described the gunmen emerging from nearby bushes and firing indiscriminately to scare residents and passing vehicles.
He expressed deep concern about the recurring kidnappings in Nde Three Corners, noting that the Ikom-Nde Ogoja Highway seems to be a target for these criminals.
Corroborating the account, Gideon Chuka Ebuka of Mystery Media reported that the village chief, HRH Nton-aton Engineer Nton Bassey Nsan, confirmed the kidnapping and killing. He stated that the kidnappers struck again on Thursday morning, this time taking a man and a woman, and tragically shooting and killing a baby who was being transported for medical attention.
A stranded bus caught in the crossfire sustained damage due to gunfire, further illustrating the brazen nature of the attack.
The chief expressed concern about the sophisticated weapons used by the perpetrators, attributing their success in overpowering local resistance to this advantage.
He pleaded with the state and federal governments to intervene and provide security to the community, whose residents now fear venturing out for farming or other essential activities.
