Iniobong Sunday
After spending about two weeks in kidnappers’ den, Mr. Monday Ekoriko, the Principal-General of Madonna Community Secondary School (MCSS), Oruk Anam Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom, has regained freedom.
Ekoriko, a Church Elder of the United Evangelical Church (UEC), was seized by armed hoodlums, who stormed his Udianga Enem country home in Etim Ekpo LGA, on September 4, and whisked him away.
They cargoed him away in his Lexus SUV, which was abandoned at Ekparakwa Village in Oruk Anam Local Government Area, but was later recovered by the police.
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Although the kidnappers had demanded N50 million ransom, our correspondent gathered, they eventually collected N4.2million to release him.
Speaking to our correspondent Monday, Ekoriko said he was subjected to death threats throughout the period of his travails in the forest in a bid to compel him to quickly raise the ransom.
“They took me from their camp, tied my face with black ribbon and escorted me out of the forest and dropped me somewhere in a community in Mkpat Enin LGA at about 12.10 a.m. this morning (Monday). From there, I did immediately know where I was because there was no single person at that hour of the night.
“I started trekking and jogging from there towards Ekparakwa axis and headed towards Ukanafun LGA when my eyes became clearer. At Ukanafun, I was able to connect my friend, who drove me to my compound, Udianga Enem in Etim Ekpo LGA,” he recalled.
He added that he was fed with beans, garri and fruits especially cucumber during the two weeks in their captivity.
Confirming the incident, SP Odiko MacDon, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), assuring that “despite the release the Command will stop at nothing to ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and brought to book.”
He assured that “the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olatoye Durosinmi, has vowed that the matter be investigated.”
“Security in Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun LGAs has been beefed-up to forestall such incident in future,” he added.
