Rivers CP Kimo

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

In a manner akin to a commando operation, over 15 gunmen, on Saturday night, kidnapped a 78-year old Mrs. Mabel Abiante, in her residence at Ngo, headquarters of Andoni local government area of Rivers State.

According to eyewitnesses, Mrs. Abiante, wife to the late Rev. Dagomie Abiante, a popular cleric, was kidnapped at about 8.50pm while watching television in her sitting room. She had closed from her shop at about 8.30pm.

Eyewitnesses narrated that the men, who shot sporadically, had positioned some of their members around the house while others moved into the sitting room where they whisked Mrs. Abiante away.

The criminals were challenged by one of Mrs. Abiante’s daughters who was at home when the kidnappers struck. But her efforts did nothing to stop the men who used the butts of their guns on her head and right hand, leaving her with swollen body.

The kidnappers were said to have escaped in a waiting speedboat through a side of the Ngo River close to the Abiante family house.

The whereabouts of the 78-year old woman remained unknown at the time of the report as her abductors were yet to make contacts with the family.

Andoni local government is where the Tele Ikuru, the former Deputy Governor to Chibuike Amaechi and Uche Secondus, the Acting National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, hail from.

Rivers Police command was yet to react to the kidnap at press time.