Kidnap: Rivers PDP Chieftains Regain Freedom

National President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC),Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar (middle) with National President of NUPPPPROW Comrade. Danjuma Papa Kunini (left) and representative of the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr, D, Monyei, during the 14th National Quadrennial Delegates Conference, recently. Photo: Nwiueh Donatus Ken

There was jubilation yesterday as three members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, including a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Chinyere Igwe, abducted in Port Harcourt last week regained their freedom.
The other two stalwarts kidnapped by the hoodlums are Allwell Ihunwo and Ikechi Chindah.
The Tide gathered that the three were released to their families yesterday.
Sources hinted that Ihunwo was released in the early hours yesterday while Chindah, who is  the PDP chairman in the Port Harcourt Local Government Area and, Igwe were released in the evening.
Sources hinted that after the release of Ihunwo, the abductors demanded for ransom money before the release of Igwe and Chindah.
Although it was not immediately clear if any ransom was paid to the kidnappers for their release.
When contacted, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr Johnson Tunde Ogunsakin confirmed that the three men had been released.
Ogunsakin, who refused to comment further, said he was in a meeting and will give details later.
It would be recalled that the three PDP chieftains were kidnapped ten days ago at Eagle Island area of Port Harcourt.
It was learnt that party faithful and well wishers were visiting the houses of the three men who also live in the same neighbourhood.
Meanwhile, the police in Enugu State yesterday announced they have arrested two more suspects allegedly involved in the abduction of two students of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, DSP Ebere Amaraizu, the police named the suspects as Julius Kama and Emmanuel Joseph.
The statement quoted both suspects as claiming to be students of ESUT, adding that Kama and Joseph said they belonged to the departments of Mechanical Engineering and Political Science respectively.
It said that the suspects were arrested at Pioneer Avenue, Independence Layout, Enugu, following tracking and monitoring by the police.
It said that the command had earlier nabbed one of the gang members, Ngeneoke Chinugo, of Ituku, during a rescue mission of the victims.
The police said it also nabbed one Okezie Ifeanyi of Ohuhu, Umuahia, who claimed to be a 200-level student of the Department of Administration and Planning, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki.
The statement said Okezie was arrested on March 5 at Ishiagu junction on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway while in possession of two locally-made double-barrel pistols, and five cartridges.
It said that a notorious armed robbery suspect, Ozoemena Nnamdi, was also nabbed on March 4 at the top land axis of Awkunanaw, following a tip-off.