Police in Rivers under pressure to rescue pregnant woman, 33 others in kidnapper’s den

Police in Rivers under pressure to rescue pregnant woman, 33 others in kidnapper’s den

Thursday, March 14, 2019 1:44 pm



Police

… Reckless trailer driver dismantles kidnappers’ barricade

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Security agencies in Rivers State are under immense pressure to secure the release of about 33 passengers, including a pregnant woman who were kidnapped at different times and at separate locations within Ikwerre and Emohua local government areas of the state in past 11 days.

On Sunday March 3, a commuter bus with more than 15 passengers, including a pregnant woman  was ambushed along Ubima-Omerelu road in Ikwerre local government area.

It was learnt that the diehard kidnappers abducted the passengers and later demanded and collected an undisclosed amount as ransom from the relations of the victims, but had efused to release their victims 11 days after.

The passengers were abducted on their way to Imo state.

It was gathered that the apprehensive relations of the victims have been piling up pressure on a crack team of the Inspector General of Police Anti-Kidnapping monitoring Unit under the headship of DSP Bello Yusuf deployed to rescue the victims this week.

It was also learnt that the Commander of IGP Anti-kidnapping monitoring Unit, DCP Ben Igwe, has issued an ultimatum to the residents of Omerelu and Ubima to appeal to kidnappers in their midst to ensure the release of already traumatized passengers or face dire consequences.

Our Correspondent learnt that the Anti-kidnapping monitoring team had visited Ubima and Omerelu at different times to carry out some arrests and gather intelligence reports that would lead to the freedom of the victims.

In a Similar development, another set of 18 passengers according to an eyewitness, were abducted exactly a week later, on Monday, March 11, between Elele-Alimini and Ndele Police checkpoint along the East-West road.

The eyewitness who said he was driving from Bayelsa to Port Harcourt on the fateful day pointed out that no policeman was seen at their usual checkpoints near the crime scene.

It was further gathered that the gunmen still mounted blockades perhaps to intercept more victims, but a trailer driver who may have noticed the blockade rammed into it on top speed and scattered it.

“The trailer scattered the kidnapper’s blockade and nearly run over one of the suspected kidnappers who quickly dashed into the bush. The action of the trailer paved way for other motorists trailing behind to escape another possible operation of the hoodlums.”

It would be recalled that few weeks to the Presidential election, the Rivers State Police command declared a State of Emergency on the stretch from Choba  to Mbiama junction on the East-West road.

The Spokesman for the Police Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni made the announcement on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Usman Belel.

Within the short period, there was relative respite for commuters.


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