By Frank Ulom
The Deputy Governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Cross River State, Prince Agbor Onyi has been kidnapped.
CONVERSEER gathered that Onyi was kidnapped alongside three others around Akparavuni in Biase Local Government Area of the state on Thursday, March 16, 2023.
He was said to be travelling from Calabar to Bekwarra to vote on Saturday, March 18 – the date for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly election.
In a statement on Friday, March 17, the YPP said the news is shocking and depressing.
The statement which was signed by Comrade Fredrick Omari, YPP State Secretary in the state further stated that the kidnappers are demanding a huge amount of money as ransom while demanding the immediate release of the victim.
“The Young Progressives Party, YPP, Cross River State chapter received with rude shock the depressing news of the kidnap of her Deputy Governorship candidate, Prince Agbor Onyi alongside three others. The incident that reportedly took place yesterday around Akparavuni in Biase LGA, the now popular kidnappers’ haven has left the party broken, bruised and distressed.
“From the information available, the kidnappers are already demanding a humongous sum as ransom. The timing of this criminal act is very devastating to the party and is a very serious concern to us all.
“We, therefore, call on the Nigerian Police and all security agencies to swing into action with unaccustomed alacrity. We demand that our Deputy Governorship candidate be released from the kidnappers’ den immediately to enable him to proceed to his community to perform his civic duty tomorrow.
“We equally call on all our party members across the state to remain calm as we request the general public to furnish us and security agencies with relevant information that can aid his prompt release”, the statement read in full.
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CONVERSEER had earlier reported that an Assistant Superintendent of Immigration (ASI) was kidnapped the same day in the same area. It is unclear if they boarded the same vehicle.
Meanwhile, SP Irene Ugbo, spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force in Cross River State in a telephone call on Friday confirmed to CONVERSEER that four persons were kidnapped in Biase on the same date.
Ugbo said: “I got a call concerning the abduction. He is not the only one, other persons were involved. We are on it.
“The CP Election has directed that drastic action should be taken. It is being worked on. Let us hope and pray that before tomorrow (Saturday), everything will be fine”.
