Rivers: 14 kidnapped passengers freed, 7 others still missing

Okafor Ofiebor /Port Harcourt

Another 14 passengers who were abducted around Rumuiji along the East-West road in Emohua Local Government area of Rivers State on Monday have been released.

It was not clear if ransoms were paid paid before the kidnap victims were set free by their abductors.

It has been a regular nightmare travelling on East-West road by the Rumuiji axis and the Elele-Isiokpo road in Rivers once it is 6pm for sometimes now.

Nnamdi Omoni, DSP and Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer who confirmed the release of the 14 passengers said the Police and the Vigilance groups in the area collaborated through effective intelligence gathering and this led to the quick release of the 14 passengers.

It was learnt that the 14passengers were travelling from Warri in Delta State to Port Harcourt when they were ambushed and abducted.

“I can confirm to you that the 14 passengers who were abducted around the Rumuiji axis of the East-West road were released 24 hours after the incident due to the efforts of the Vigilante in the area and the increased patrol by the Police.

“We are doing our best to curb the menace of the criminals who make travelling on the roads across the state a nightmare.”

Meanwhile, the whereabouts of the seven passengers, including two executive members of Judiciary Workers and a pregnant woman remain unknown five days after their abduction along Elele-Isiokpo road in Ikwerre local government area of the State.

The labour leaders were travelling from Abuja back to the Rivers State capital when their vehicle was ambushedand the passengers were herded into a bush by unknown gunmen.

The top echelon of the Labour unions led by Mrs Beatrice Ituboh, Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC have passionately appealed to the abductors to release the labour leaders unconditionally.