Fear grips motorists on the Calabar-Ikom highway following an attack by kidnappers.

There is fear among commuters and road users on the Calabar-Ikom Highway following the weekend attack on former Cross River SUBEB boss Hon Omaga Odo along the Uyanga axis.

Park operators, managers, drivers, and commuters expressed concern that the road was no longer safe, citing weekly attacks on the location where at least 14 people have been abducted by gunmen.

Speaking to Vanguard on Monday, Mr Rex Abang, Park Manager of Ikom/Calabar Park (MCC), said the incident had a profound and negative impact on their operations, adding that it was no longer business as usual.

“Most people who travel now only do so because it is necessary and urgent, a lot of people now prefer to leave very early or don’t travel at all,” Abang said.

“We now have a low turnout of passengers because many prefer to simply way bill items due to an increase in the aspect of the business.”

“A lot of passengers are now afraid to travel, but our appeal to the government is to send a contractor to the location to fix the bad portion, and I sincerely want to commend the police, particularly the tactical team of the Anti Cultism and Kidnapping Squad ACKS” ( Dragon Squad).

“The Squad has restored confidence, but how long will they be there, because I believe it is only their presence that can restore calm to the area,” Abang said.

Mr Joseph Uzembe, Manager Calabar/Obudu Park (Etta Agbor), told Vanguard that they now stop loading vehicles after 2 p.m. for fear of being attacked along the Uyanga axis.

He told Vanguard that some government officials had previously visited them in an attempt to hold a security meeting with them, but nothing had come of it.

Uzembe revealed that passenger turnout has plummeted since the first and second incidents, and that now that a third incident has occurred, only time will tell what will become of their business, as they ply that route on a daily basis.

“We are willing to collaborate with security agencies to restore normalcy to the area, but there should be remedial work on that portion of the road, because without it, you just have to slow down when you reach that point, and that is the window through which the hoodlums can attack.”

“However, I must commend the men of anti-kidnapping and other security agencies for their efforts. We know that some criminals use motorcycles, and I believe that if security operatives receive more government support, they will do more.”

“Let the Cross River state government also equip the anti-kidnapping squad to carry out their mandate; their presence is what keeps us going now,” Uzembe said.

A commuter at the park who requested anonymity told Vanguard that the military should do their job and stop molesting people in cars because of their hairstyles, and that roadblocks should not be used to humiliate passengers.

“The military personnel on the route who were stationed there following the second incident are now taking advantage of the opportunity to molest passengers; they should go after the true perpetrators and leave passengers alone.”

“We’re not saying they shouldn’t search us, but they should stop violating passengers based on their hairstyles and go after the criminals,” he said.

When contacted, the police public relations officer, S Irene Ugbo, who confirmed the recent attack on the former SUBEB boss, Hon Omaga Odo, said it was unfortunate and that the Abdulhameed Awodi-led Dragon Squad had been deployed to the route.

She also stated that personnel will remain in the area until normalcy is restored, and that other strategic operations, which she cannot discuss, will be carried out on a consistent basis in the area and beyond.

SP Ugbo, who urged calm, urged drivers and commuters to move freely, adding that there was no need for concern.

Hon Omaga Odo was traveling from Calabar on Saturday when he was attacked by hoodlums who shot at him several times, riddling the SUV he was traveling in with bullets. No lives were lost, but the vehicle was severely damaged.