‘4 Foreigners Abducted In Abia, Not Rivers’ …Police Announce N2m Reward

The Rivers State Commissioner of Information and Communication, Mrs Ibim Semeniari has refuted a recent report imputing kidnap of foreigners in Rivers State, saying that concoction was false.

Briefing newsmen  in her office Tuesday, the commissioner said that the security report showed that the kidnap of three Britons and a Colombian engaged by NECODECIMA, a contracting firm with the Shell Petroleum Development Company took place in neighbouring state and not in Rivers State.

She therefore advised authors of the report, particularly all foreign journalists in the state to always cross-check their facts before going to the press.

According to the commissioner, it is totally unprofessional and unethical for any journalists to put out a story for public consumption without confirmation, She sympathized with the victims, their families and the management of Shell over the incident and urged the kidnappers to release their captives unconditionally and unhurt.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command has pledged a cash reward of N2 million to any person with useful information that could lead to the rescue of the foreigners now known to have been kidnapped in Abia State.

In a statement signed by the Police Public Relation Officer, PPRO, Rita Inoma-Abbey, a deputy Superintendent of Police, (DSP) the command said the kidnap which occured last Tuesday  took place at Obehie in Abia State.

The financial reward the PPRO assured will be redeemed at the police Public Relations Department, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.

The statement enjoined all informants to contact the nearest police station or call the following security numbers: 08073777787, 08073777717, 08073777757, and 08032003514 to facilitate the arrest of the miscreants and urged the public to help fight criminality that may thwarts the efforts of the Rivers State government at bringing about peace in the state.