Gunmen have kidnapped a former governorship aspirant in Cross River State under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, Princess Filia Henshaw, and five others in Calabar.

It was gathered that the gunmen kidnapped Princess Henshaw late Sunday night from her residence close to Hawkins Street in Calabar South LGA.

A family member narrated that “The gunmen came inside the compound while the generator was on. Their first move was to turn off the generator to lure us outside,

“The moment I opened the door to check what happened, I was brutally attacked by two gunmen while others were waiting outside.

“Immediately Mma(Henshaw) heard the struggles between me and the gunmen, she advance outside. That was when she was ordered silently to a waiting car by the gunmen and was whisked away.”

Henshaw was among at least six people that have been kidnapped recently in Calabar amid the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the victims is a well known Igbo businessman and the CEO of Odinka Electrical & Electronics, Chief Odinka Odinka.

Sources said Chief Odinka, a former Board member of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar was abducted last Friday at about 8 pm from his hop at Target Street, Calabar South LGA.

Another victim who is an IT consultant and younger brother to the CEO of Andy Systems was also kidnapped and released recently after payment of an undisclosed ransom. Another Cameroon-based victim and clothes importer identified as Chidozie was also kidnapped recently along Etta Agbor in Calabar.

It was gathered that another businessman allegedly paid N7 million as ransom before he was freed, while a pharmacist who owns a pharmacy at Orok Orok Junction along with Goldie also paid about N1 million before she was released.

The source who pleaded for anonymity said “About four Igbo people have been kidnapped amid the coronavirus pandemic and you can imagine paying millions of naira to criminals at this critical time. The situation is really degenerating and we are appealing to Governor Ben Ayade to help us. Our people are losing money to these criminals.”

The State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo confirmed the incidents, saying “We are aware of the incidents and we are working on it. We are investigating the abduction of a businessman at Target and Princess Henshaw and we will get to the root of the matter.

“We also made progress at the weekend as we rescued another businessman who was kidnapped in Akampka LGA. We are not resting on our oars. We are matching our words with action by making sure we rid the state of all criminal elements.”