Kenneth Abang, a legislative aide to a House of Representatives member representing Boki-Ikom Federal Constituency in Cross River, has been kidnapped.

Mr Abang, an aide to Rep. Chris Agibe, was abducted in the Betem community in the Biase Local Government Area of Cross River.

He was kidnapped alongside his relative, Eunice Abang, on January 30.

Mr Abang’s friend, Fidelis Ekpah, in a telephone interview on Tuesday in Calabar, said the aide was travelling to his home town in the Boki Local Government Area when he was abducted.

Mr Ekpah explained that Mr Abang was travelling to prepare for his late father’s burial, scheduled for February 3 and 4.

“Mr Kenneth Abang has been kidnapped along the Calabar-Biase highway while travelling to Boki to make preparations for his father’s burial.

“He was kidnapped alongside his relative, Miss Eunice Abang. They took them away and abandoned his car by the roadside.

“This is a double tragedy for us. We were already planning for his father’s burial before this ugly incident occurred.

“I want to appeal to the police, the army, civil defence and the department of state service to come to our aid and rescue our brother and his relative,” Mr Ekpah said.

The spokeswoman of the Cross River State Police Command, Irene Ugbo, who confirmed the abduction in a telephone interview, said efforts were ongoing to rescue the victims.

“The deputy commissioner of police in charge of operations has drafted our men to the area to ensure the release of Abang and his relation,” she said.

(NAN)