Four-month-old boy abducted by suspected ritualists in Akwa Ibom

Gunmen suspected to be ritualists have abducted a 4month- old baby boy in Enen-Atai village Itu local government area of Akwa Ibom state.

Newsmen gathered on Monday that the incident occurred about 3:00am last Saturday.

The distraught parents of the abducted baby boy who spoke to some newsmen narrated how the armed men stormed the sleepy community, broke into their home and took their child at gunpoint.

The father of the baby Udeme Eyo whose family house is near the Primary School at East Itam zone said that even rallying people for help could not yield results as the hoodlums had left before the residents arrived.

Eyo said they were already sleeping when the suspected ritualists stormed their residence.

Eyo narrated, “And I was half asleep when I heard the bang on the door, I jumped out of my bed but the door was forced open. Two strange armed men entered and demanded for my son. And as a man tried to stop them, they brought out guns and machetes.

“While one of them pointed torchlight and gun at us the second man snatched our baby from the mother and rushed to where the parked their Car across the road and sped away with our baby

“We are appealing to government, security agencies and other concerned members of the community, to come to our aid. We have reported the matter to the Police.

“As I speak, my wife is completely traumatized. We lost our first child at about the same age, and now that she was being consoled by new baby boy, this has happened. We are completely confused and devastated,”

The village head of the community, Prof. Efanga Usua, expressed fear and disappointment, saying that such has never occurred in the area until recently when unknown gunmen on a motorcycle snatched the baby of a mentally deranged woman.

He explained that to forestall such ugly incident from befalling the community again, noted that matters such as enforcement of ban on motorcyclists operating after 8:00pm and barricade by Vigilante groups are some of the options that would be considered at the stakeholders meeting

“We have reported the matter at the Divisional Police station, and we are yet to hear anything positive from them,” the royal father added.

The Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) at Ayadehe Police station, where the issue was lodged, Mr. Bokime Bassey, confirmed the incident to some newsmen saying Police operatives were not resting on the matter.

“Investigation is ongoing to make sure the perpetrators of the heinous crime are apprehended and brought to justice. Yes, we know about the issue, it was reported. We are on top of the situation. Even this morning we were in that village, and we are making progress,” he assured.