Ernest Chinwo
11 May 2008
Calabar — The three workers of China Civil Engineering Cons-truction Corporation (CCECC) kidnapped last Thursday in Calabar by people suspected to be workers of the company have regained their freedom.
Chief Press Secretary and Special Assistant to Governor Liyel Imoke on Media, Mr. Patrick Ugbe, said in a telephone interview that the Chinese workers suddenly appeared at the gate to the Company's premises at Ikonno, Akwa Ibom State yesterday morning unharmed.
He said the Government of Cross River State was not aware of any ransom paid by the Company for the release of the workers.
He however said the State Government would investigate the circumstances leading to the abduction and release of the Chinese workers to ensure that such incidents did not happen again in the state.
THISDAY gathered that the workers, whose names are yet unknown, were returning to their residence in the company's compound at State Housing Estate, Calabar at about 4 pm on Thursday when they were abducted and driven off in the company's vehicle.
The abductors are said to have demanded a ransom before they could release the workers. The ransom demand was contained in a letter left in the workers' vehicle, which was abandoned by the kidnappers at the gate of the Company's site in Ikonno, Akwa Ibom State. Officials of the company are said to have also entered into negotiations for the release of the workers
There are speculations that the Chinese officials may have been abducted by workers of the company who have been agitating for higher wages and better conditions of service, including better health services, which officials of the company have refused to accede to.
Investigations revealed that the workers had tried to submit a letter to Governor Liyel Imoke about their grievances when the Governor inspected progress of work at bridge site last Tuesday. Although they did not succeed, they managed to pass the letter through a top aide of the Governor who later submitted the letter to the Governor. The Governor was said to be in the process of calling a meeting of officials and workers of the company when the news of the abduction filtered to him.
A source in the Governor's Office told THISDAY that the Governor was incensed by the development, especially coming from workers.
The source said the Governor gave security agencies the marching orders to apprehend the culprits as soon as possible.
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