BREAKING: Panic in Rivers as gunmen kidnap 14 passengers, police rescue hostages
– Some unknown gunmen have attacked Rivers state
– The gunmen reportedly intercepted a commercial bus and kidnapped 14 passengers
– Police say the 14 hostages have regained their freedom
The release of 14 passengers kidnapped by some unknown gunmen in Rivers has been confirmed by the state’s police command.
Unknown Gunmen kidnap 14 in Rivers state.
A bus belonging to ONELGA Link was hijacked by some hoodlums last weekend, with 14 passengers on board. The bus was reportedly set ablaze while the passengers were kidnapped.
The police in a statement signed by its spokesman, DSP Omoni Nnamdi said the victims were rescued following the swift response of the police to the situation.
He stated that no ransom was paid for the release of any of the hostages, adding that none of the victims was hurt.
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Meanwhile, the police has cautioned members of the public to be weary of kidnappers who disguise as military personnel.
According to the statement, “It has been observed that kidnappers have now evolved new method of wearing Army Camouflage Uniforms and the use of Hilux Vehicles in perpetrating their criminal act by claiming to be Military men on official assignment.
“In view of this, the public is hereby warned to seek clearance and confirmation from the Police Control Room, before following any officer who claims to have come to arrest him/her. It has been discovered that such arrest eventually turns out to be abduction.
“On the 12th of August, 2016, fourteen (14) passengers were abducted while traveling from Omoku to Port Harcourt in a bus. In a swift reaction by the Command’s Tactical Units, the bus was seen and after a diligent operation by the Command; the hostages were released unhurt. They have been debriefed and have reunited with their families. However, no ransom was paid.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Francis Mobolaji Odesanya, wishes to assure the good people of the State that we are on top of our game, as we continue to wage the war against all manners of crime and criminality in the State. We urge the public to continue to have confidence in the Police, and volunteer information timely, as the Command is poised to making the State safe again.”
A wave of tension was felt in Rivers state on Friday, August 12, as a commercial bus conveying about 14 passengers from Port Harcourt, the state capital to Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state was intercepted by unknown gunmen.
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The incident happened on the Elele-Ikiri-Omoku Road at about 4pm during which the hoodlums reportedly ordered the passengers out of the vehicle marked ONELGA Link, set it ablaze and whisked them away in their vehicle.
The kidnappers were said to have forced the vehicle to a halt shortly after it negotiated through a sharp bend.
The police spokesperson, Nnamdi Omoni when contacted, said he had little or no details on the incident.
He spoke to newsmen saying: “I’m not in the know officially. I will speak on the matter when I get full details.”
In a similar development, Daily Post reports that a senior lecturer of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor John Okorie who was abducted by suspected kidnappers has regained his freedom.
This was confirmed by the Rivers state Police Command at a media briefing held at the Police Headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Spokesman of the Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni disclosed that no ransom was paid for the release of the lecturer.
Omoni said: “The Lecturer was rescued within 24-hours of his kidnap. When our men got wind of the information, they swung into action. Men of the Anti-kidnapping Squad were deployed to go after the criminals and they were able to rescue him. I have to say no ransom was paid. Nobody paid anything.
“And this is a warning to everyone committing crime in Rivers state to either leave this state or turn a new leaf. We will not allow criminals to make Rivers state their haven.”
Professor Okorie of the Faculty of Engineering and also the director of the offshore technology institute at UNIPORT was kidnapped on his way home on Monday, August 8.
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