By Emma Una

CALABAR—HOODLUMS, numbering seven, Sunday night, abducted Chief Dominic Aqua Edem, Labour Party, LP, House of Representatives candidate for Calabar South/Akpabuyo/Bakassi Federal Constituency and took him to an unknown destination. The hoodlums, according to one of his aides, laid wait for him outside his home at Ikotenim in the Western part of Calabar.

According to him, on his return from an outing “the hoodlums descended on him, assaulted him, bundled him into a vehicle and sped off.” Aqua Edem, who is the former member representing Cross River State in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, was not with his police escort at the time.

The aide said: “On Sundays, he allows his escort to take some time off and was not with any security detail. That perhaps was the reason the people could strike without resistance.”

At press time, the hoodlums were yet to contact the family. Mr. Hogan Bassey, Cross River State Police Command spokesman, said police are investigating the matter. “The incident just happened and our men are combing the town for clues as to where they have taken him and how to apprehend his captors,” he said.