Two of the three criminals who kidnapped some pastors in August 2022 in the state's Odukpani Local Government Area have been neutralised, according to the Cross River State Police Command.
The pastors were reportedly on their way to Creek Town for a church-planting ceremony when they were abducted by the attackers, who later demanded N10 million in ransom to free them.
The Anti Cultism and Kidnapping Squad, led by Awodi Abdulhameed, Op Akpakwu (Government House), and sting unit made the breakthrough, according to state commissioner of police Aminu Alhassan, who confirmed the development yesterday in Calabar.
Aminu said: “It is true that we neutralised two kidnap kingpins involved in the kidnap of some pastors, who went to church planting at Creek Town, Odukpani LGA of the state.
“Two couldn’t make it alive, while the third who is now at large, was severely injured during a gun battle. We also want to appeal to locals to be on the lookout for anyone with gun wounds in their community.”