Calabar fish vendor kidnapped wants N5 million in ransom

 

An unidentified group of armed individuals has abducted an individual engaged in the sale of fish in Cross River State. The perpetrators have subsequently issued a demand for a sum of five million naira to be paid as ransom by the victim's family.

The available information indicates that Mrs. Rosemary Ofem, the individual in question, was subjected to a kidnapping incident on September 26, 2023. This event occurred in the vicinity of Ikang, situated within the Bakassi Local Government Area. Mrs. Ofem was reportedly traveling by boat at the time of the incident, en route to purchase fish for commercial purposes.

According to a family member, Ofem, who has the primary financial responsibility for her family, departed from Ugep, a region inside the Yakurr Local Government Area of the state, and relocated to Ikang where she was subsequently subjected to a kidnapping incident.

According to the source, a special service was conducted yesterday (October 1) at the Church of God Mission in Ugep, specifically for her.

On October 2nd, the perpetrators initiated contact and requested that she establish communication with her relatives.

The individuals insisted on a payment of 5 million naira, disregarding the woman's emotional distress and appeal. From where would she acquire a sum of 5 million naira, given that her sole source of income is the sale of fish to sustain her family's livelihood? From where will her husband acquire such a substantial sum of money? She is the primary earner in the household.

The individual in question was not in a state of solitude. According to a source within the family, the individual in question was abducted from a vessel along with several other individuals who had also been on the same journey to purchase fish.

At the time of compiling this story, attempts to reach SP Irene Ugbo, the Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, for comment on the event were unsuccessful.