Gunmen stormed the residence of Etiyin Maurice Edet, the traditional ruler of Akpabuyo Local Government Area in Cross River, on Sunday night and abducted him.

Sadly, an aide to the traditional ruler was shot and killed during the kidnapping.

While the spokesperson of the state Police Command, SP Irene Ugbo, confirmed the incident, she stated that details were not yet available.

According to a source, the traditional ruler’s aide lost his life while attempting to prevent the abduction of his principal.

Akpabuyo, located less than 15 kilometers from Calabar, the state capital, has gained notoriety for criminal activities.

In a separate incident, Professor Patrick Egaga, the Director of SERVICOM at the University of Calabar (Unical), has been released by his abductors after spending 26 days in captivity. He was kidnapped from the institution’s staff quarters, and a ransom of N50 million was demanded.

Calabar and its surrounding areas have experienced a rise in abduction cases in recent months, with lecturers, lawyers, medical doctors, clergymen, and high-profile individuals being targeted.