Reports reaching Pointblanknews.com indicate that armed men, suspected to be operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS), on Tuesday seized a senior editor of a popular Uyo-based newspaper widely regarded for its critical views of the Akwa Ibom State government.
The Editor of Global Concord, Thomas Thomas , was abducted by three operatives of the DSS at about 3pm at the popular Aka Road/NEPA Line junction in Uyo.
According to sources, Thomas was located through his brother who was called from MTN Office to come and claim a price. There, the brother was arrested and manhandled to get Thomas’ whereabouts.
The brother, reports say, was taken to Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia before the men who had identified themselves through as DSS operatives, trailed and arrested Thomas.
It was learnt that the operatives did not say why he was picked up
The paper had alleged that State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, was behind the assassination plot on Edidem Ime Dickson Umoete, Paramount Ruler of Etinan and President of Uyio Ikpaisong Essien Ibibio .
Reports say Thomas who was riding in a tricycle when he was attacked by attempted to escape after apparently realizing the tricycle was being trailed by a car.
But as Mr. Thomas made to run, the witness said, three men emerged from a Toyota Corolla and chased down the fleeing editor, promptly handcuffed and forced him into the waiting car.
The abductors who brandished their official firearms, whisked Thomas away to an unknown destination.
No one has made contact with his family or office since the abduction.