Ukanafun crisis escalates as gunmen abduct 3 year old *Monarch’s son, friend nabbed *My hands are clean – royal father

*A politician sent us – suspects

Violent crimes in Ukanafun LGA seem to have no end in the foreseeable future as the recent abduction of a 3year old MmeyeneUbokutom Monday penultimate Saturday at Nkek Abak has shown.

Ofonime, who is the mother of the little girl explained to our crime correspondent that the two dangerous visitors stormed into their compound at about 8pm when the family was taking dinner on the veranda of their thatched house, saying that they moved briskly and snatched the girl while one pointed a short gun. 

Unknown to the abductors of Mmeyene, one of them was one Ukeme, Second son to the village head of Nkek Abak who is also the clan head of  NorthernUkanafun, ObongUwem Williamson Akpan. This is said to have rattled the community and was even discussed in hushed tones since Ukeme is alleged to have been linked to the abduction of at least 5 children in Nkek Abak alone, just like the people have not suffered memory deficit of the kidnap of twins allegedly by him at IkotNtuk in Abak LGA where the mother is said to hail from. Jungle justice by mob is said to have claimed their hideout while he escaped by the skin of his teeth. 

The victim’s mother further explained that she instantly raised alarm to intimate neighbours of the abduction; they joined her in fruitless search for Mmeyene that night. She said that the following morning she reported the matter to the clanhead who urgently convened an emergency meeting of the village council to decide on a quick step to fast-track the release of Mmeyene who barely took her dinner before she was abducted. 

Sources in the village alleged that the emergency meeting was not unconnected with the kidnap allegation which had filtered to the ears of the palace, hence the need for meeting to dryclean the crimson stigma. The clan head who admitted receiving the abduction complaint said the meeting with his council members and community leaders was to proffer proactive solution to secure the release of the victim, stating that the council had decided on traditional findings when a friend of his son who was spotted at the scene of crime excused him out of the meeting to give an important information before the council delegated a team to embark on the proposed findings. 

The royal father told our reporter that it was when he and his son’s friend had some privacy in a room that he knelt down in tears while begging for forgiveness, that he and Ukeme snatched the girl who was in the dungeon of Mr. Emem Monday Thompson, who is said to be toying with the political aspiration ahead of 2019. Police is said to be mounting its search-light on the Nkek Abak – born kidnap kingpin. 

The traditional ruler said he did not break the news to those at the meeting, but he called the police because of the weight of confession and for fear that they could develop wings out of the palace, Chief UwemAkpan who maintained that the culprits should face the full wrath of the law even as his son Ukeme, a student of Government Technical College, Abak and his friend who hails from Oku Abak are suspects. The allegation of his nephew’s kidnap is said to be trailing the notoriousOku Abak – born suspect who, the Police, said to have made useful statement in connection with the criminal exploits of the smashed syndicate.

Meanwhile, sources that spoke with the paper alleged that inviting the police was only an option left since the game had crashed as some “enemies” could have reported the clanhead as a mastermind who spread a welcome mat to criminals even as his son has been accused for the umpteenth time.

Denying the allegation of complicity in the kidnap of Mmeyene, who alongsideher parents had interacted with our reporter last week in their family compound, the clanhead, said the allegation is the handiwork of his detractors and mischief makers who are bent on blackmailing him since he floored some of them during the chieftaincy tussle, saying that his accusers have activated their machinery to sling mud on the enviable traditional stool. 

The monarch wondered how he would be involved in the crime and went on to invite the suspects which is son is one of them, pointing out that he had made a statement to the Police that is investigating the matter. The royal father of 16 children, who narrated his endurance trek from penury to the palace as an ordinary herbs vendor said his kidnap suspect son, Ukeme has inflicted him with chronic headache and should be made to face the music; lamented that when a finger is stained with oil, it soils others.