Between April and June this year, criminals virtually held residents of the state captive as they carried out kidnap, armed robbery and rape in broad daylight. There was palpable fear amongst the residents as businesses, nightlife and even social events like weddings, burials, naming ceremonies were put on hold or done in a hurry to beat raids by the rampaging criminals.
Virtually every one with a reasonable financial base or considered rich enough was either abducted, attacked or threatened at some point. Most affected were pastors of major churches, big businessmen and university teachers whom the hoodlums believe stashed cash at home or carried large sums of money around.
Most affected by the crime wave were Igbo traders in the city. In fact, the situation got so bad that they had to cry out to the state governor Ben Ayade and the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Abasi Otu, for help as they seemed the major targets of the criminals who daily kidnap their members to extort ransom or raided their shops to cart away large sums of money.
Rufus Eze, the vice president of the Igbo community in the state, who led fellow traders to the Obong said that 80% of kidnapped victims in the state were Igbo traders. They appealed to the state government, traditional and religious leaders to help them.
Mr Eze said: “It has become worrisome that the Igbos are the target of the kidnappers. When they kidnap, they will make family members of their victim to go and borrow money, sell his or her belongings to pay ransom.
"We are appealing to the state government, traditional and religious leaders to help us. We came here to do business and not to be kidnapped and forced to pay ransom.”
Obong Abasi Otu who was furious at the level of criminality in the state, stated that Calabar was known for its peaceful and serene nature and cannot afford to be home to kidnappers. He said there was a need for security agencies in the state to rise up to the challenge and curb the ugly trend.
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