Kidnapped Akwa Ibom Senator, Effiong regains freedom after 46 days in captivity
After 46 days in kidnappers den, Sen Nelson Effiong has regained his freedom. Sen Nelson Effiong, a former Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and Senator for Eket Senatorial District between 2015 to 2019, was kidnapped on Sunday, 5th September 2021 at a sitout in Uyo.
Media reports said that the abductors demanded N200m ransom to free the Senator. Inability to raise the money kept the Senator in the den all the long while. It was not clear as at the time of this report how much the family paid to the abductors to free him. A family source who confirmed the release to CitizensWatch confided in the Press that heavy ransom was taken from the family to secure the release of the Senator.
APC, Senator Nelson Effiong’s party in Akwa Ibom State “officially” broke the news of his freedom Friday night. The party in a statement signed by Mr Nkereuwen Enyongekere, State Publicity Secretary of the party tagged “The Release of Senator Nelson Effiong from the Den of the Kidnappers”, registered their “sincere gratitude to God Almighty and all who in one way or the other helped to facilitate his release and return to his family and party”.
The statement said: “The All Progressives Congress Akwa Ibom State Chapter wishes to intimate the APC family and the general public of the release of Sen Nelson Effiong who was kidnapped on Sunday evening of September 05, 2021.
“The Senator gained his freedom just yesterday (Friday October 29, 2021) from the enclave and grip of the men of underworld.
“It is our deepest concern as a party to register our sincere gratitude to God Almighty and all who contributed in one way or the other to facilitate his release and return to his family and party.
“We humbly pray to God to accord you all the conmmensurable blessings you deserve for identifying with us throughout the period of the predicament.
We say a big thank you to all.”
The police in Akwa Ibom State were yet to issue any statement on the release of the Senator.