Gunmen killed two persons in an attempt to kidnap a lawmaker during a traditional marriage ceremony at Uquo community in Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

“I went for a traditional marriage in Uquo in Esit Eket with the family of the Deputy Political Leader of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in my ward.

“After staying for about 40 minutes, I bade the couple goodbye and approached my car.

“While attempting to enter my car, I saw a Nissan Sony that blocked it car and a guy came out with AK47 rifle and started shooting sporadically into the air and people thought that he was a policeman.

“I saw him pointing the gun at my car and started shooting at people directly and bullets hit two guys,” Usoro Akpanusoh (PDP-Esit Eket/Ibeno) at the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly narrated his ordeal to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.

The lawmaker said during the last Thursday’s incident, the abductors removed his driver and approached him and drew him out of his car and attempted to abduct him.

“Fortunately the driver struggled with the guy and as God would have it, he was able to find his way back to the crowd,” Mr Akpanusoh added.

Mr Akpanusoh said that the gunmen surfaced at the ceremony with intent to abduct him, but he was lucky to escape after struggling with one of them.

He said that scores of others were injured and were rushed to the hospital.

Reacting to the incident, the state police spokesperson, Odiko Macdon, said the Divisional Police Officer in Esit Eket was investigating the incident.

“We are aware of the attempt to abduct the House member and the police are trying to determine the extent of the crime,’’ Mr Macdon said.

(NAN)