An affiliate of the U.S. oil firm ExxonMobil, on Thursday said the motive behind the abduction of head of its staff school in Eket on Wednesday, was yet to be ascertained.



Gunmen, on Wednesday morning, abducted Mrs. Lakshmi Tombush, the Principal of Mobil Pegasus Schools in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.



MPN’s Executive Director, Mrs. Gloria Essien-Danner, according to News Agency of Nigeria reports, said in a statement that investigation into the incident was in progress.



Essien-Danner said, “Mobil Producing Nigeria, operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC / MPN Joint Venture, confirms that the Head of the Pegasus Schools supported by the company in Akwa Ibom State, has been reportedly abducted by unknown persons.



“The motive for the kidnap is yet to be ascertained.



“Relevant authorities have been notified of the situation and investigations into the incident are underway.”



Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent who visited the school on Thursday said it was closed following the incident. Heavy security presence was also noticeable.



Two policemen, one of them an escort attached to Tombush, and her driver, were shot dead during the incident.



Akwa Ibom Police Command spokesman, Onyeka Orji, said the police were on the trail of the gunmen who were yet to establish contact with anybody.



Tombush runs Mobil Pegasus Staff Schools, and a motherless babies’ home in Eket funded by Mobil Producing Nigeria, operator of the Qua Iboe Oil fields in Akwa Ibom State.an affiliate of the U.S. oil firm ExxonMobil, on Thursday said the motive behind the abduction of head of its staff school in Eket on Wednesday, was yet to be ascertained.



Gunmen, on Wednesday morning, abducted Mrs. Lakshmi Tombush, the Principal of Mobil Pegasus Schools in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.



MPN’s Executive Director, Mrs. Gloria Essien-Danner, according to News Agency of Nigeria reports, said in a statement that investigation into the incident was in progress.



Essien-Danner said, “Mobil Producing Nigeria, operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC / MPN Joint Venture, confirms that the Head of the Pegasus Schools supported by the company in Akwa Ibom State, has been reportedly abducted by unknown persons.



“The motive for the kidnap is yet to be ascertained.



“Relevant authorities have been notified of the situation and investigations into the incident are underway.”



Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent who visited the school on Thursday said it was closed following the incident. Heavy security presence was also noticeable.



Two policemen, one of them an escort attached to Tombush, and her driver, were shot dead during the incident.



Akwa Ibom Police Command spokesman, Onyeka Orji, said the police were on the trail of the gunmen who were yet to establish contact with anybody.



Tombush runs Mobil Pegasus Staff Schools, and a motherless babies’ home in Eket funded by Mobil Producing Nigeria, operator of the Qua Iboe Oil fields in Akwa Ibom State.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20101015141600