An undisclosed number of passengers were kidnapped in Cross River State, South-South Nigeria.

According to Sahara Reporters, the incident reportedly took place around 3 pm on Sunday at Nde 3 Corners in the Ikom local government area, mirroring a previous abduction of the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the same area earlier in December.

Blamed on herdsmen who have been causing disturbances in the region, this latest abduction marks the fourth incident within a month around the Nde 3-corners by Akparabong junction. Distressed by the recurring kidnappings, locals have united to repair road defects, aiming to facilitate smoother traffic flow.

Eyewitnesses assert that the assailants, suspected to be herdsmen, lacked vehicles and instead emerged suddenly from the bush, firing at passing vehicles before dragging victims into nearby forests. Residents of Nde allege these criminals are residing in the nearby forests and at a trailer park within the village, perpetrating these attacks

A resident of the community, Tony Etim said that on December 28, kidnappers at Nde 3 Corners, Ikom Local Government Area abducted a man and a woman. Etim said they shot a child dead in the process.

According to him, the December 28 incident came three days after gunmen killed one Akpang Ayambem, kidnapped four and wounded several others at the same spot -on Christmas Day.

“These abductions continued unabated despite the heavy presence of armed policemen along the road. The kidnappers even engaged the security agents in a gun battle at Nde 3- corners by Akparabong junction. The hoodlums later overpowered the security agents and abducted their victims,” the source said.

The Cross Rivers Police Command spokesperson, SP Irene Ugbo, didn’t answer his calls.

He also did not reply to a text message sent to him seeking more information regarding the incident