an official of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission In the Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Stanley Okwekwe has reportedly been kidnapped.
A witness told the Nigerian News Agency (NAN) on Tuesday that the victim was abducted by four men in front of his residence in Eket at around 9:00 pm on Sunday.
The kidnappers have reportedly established contact with Mr. Okwekwe’s wife.
The victim’s wife is said to have reported the incident to the management of the regulatory commission on Monday.
“The family has agreed to pay the sum of N10 million as a ransom,” the witness said.
When NAN contacted state police spokesman Odiko MacDon, he said police had no information about the kidnapping.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has statutory responsibility for ensuring that Nigerian oil and gas companies comply with the country’s petroleum laws, regulations and guidelines.
The commission has a field office in Eket that oversees the operations of oil and gas companies in Akwa Ibom state.
Kidnapping for ransom is now one of the dominant crimes in several Nigerian cities.
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Politicians, businessmen, and anyone with good financial worth, including schoolchildren, are easy targets.
NAN reports that a woman, a businesswoman, residing in Ata-Idung Afaha Eket in the Eket Local Government Area, was kidnapped on 9 April.
(YAYA)