Cross River: Kidnapped NLC Chairman Rescued

The Nigeria Labour Congress Chairman in Cross Rivers State, Comrade Ben Ukpepi, has been rescued by the state combined security force, also known as SCOLOMBO from kidnappers.

SCOLOMBO is the combination of security agency in the state which is made up of Army, Police, Navy, Civil Defence and other security agencies.

According to the report, the NLC chairman was rescued on Sunday, by 9.15 pm at Ikot Edem Odo in Akpabuyo local government area of Cross River State.

The Permanent Secretary in charge of security in the Governor’s office, Dr Alfred Mboto confirmed the rescue.

Mboto in his statement said, “He was rescued on Sunday at about 9.15pm in Ikot Edem Odo in Akpabuyo, no ransom was paid. It was the combined security outfit of the state government called SCOLOMBO that secured his release.”

“The state is safe, though we may have pockets of the security problem, our security agencies are all over the places, we shall have peaceful Christmas and carnival celebrations. People should not be afraid of anything, we are on top of every situation”.

The Spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Irene Ugbo, in an interview with Daily Post, confirmed the rescue of the NLC Chairman, he noted that he is alive and healthy.

She said, “No ransom was paid. Though we have not arrested anybody, we are on the trail of them. Soon, we shall pick them up”.

Recall that the Cross Rivers State NLC chairman was kidnapped at his resident in Akpabuyo local government area of the State on Tuesday.