At least nine travellers were kidnapped on Tuesday by suspected herdsmen along the Calabar-Ikom highway in Cross River state.
It was gathered the incident took place on Tuesday evening, as the hoodlums numbering 15 attacked the travellers with automatic weapons.
Confirming the incident, the Cross River state Commissioner of Police, CP Sule Balarabe said the number of missing persons was yet to be ascertained.
According to him, tactical teams have been deployed to the area and the Nigeria Army has also joined in combing the area in a bid to rescue the victims unharmed.
“When I saw the video I immediately dispatched tactical teams including Anti Kidnapping Squad amongst others to the area .
“I have about six tactical units on ground, the Nigeria Army have also joined in the search and rescue operation to comb the area.
“We are doing our best at the moment, and I can assure you it will be adequately handled,” CP Balabare said.
In two separate videos making the rounds, two drivers who spoke separately, one coming from Ikom to Calabar and the other one coming from Calabar claimed that gunmen suspected to be herdsmen came out from the bush and opened fire on their vehicles.
One of the drivers claimed that the armed men took about nine people into the forest.