Gunmen Abduct Vangard Columnist In PH …Release Kogbara Unhurt, RSG Tells Kidnappers

L-R: Trade Union Congress (TUC), South-East officials: Secretary for Imo State, Mr Basil Iwu, Chairman of Imo State Chapter, Mr Paul Akalazu; Secretary for Enugu State, Mr Ben Asogwa; Chairman of Enugu State Chapter, Mr Igbokwe Igbokwe, and Chairman of Abia State Chapter, Mr Christopher Okpara, during TUC South-East news conference on labour malpractices by Enugu Electricity Distribution Company in Enugu, recently.

Barely 48 hours after the Inspector General of Police, Solomom Arase, redeployed the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, over what observers say is the rising cases of criminality, including kidnapping, armed robbery, and other crimes, unknown gunmen, yesterday, kidnapped the Vanguard Newspaper Columnist, Dornu Kogbara, in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The inspector-general of police had last Friday, announced the redeployment of 19 assistant inspectors general of police and 49 commissioners of police, including that of Rivers State, Chris Ezike; Akwa Ibom, Muritala Mani; Bayelsa, P. Okafor; Cross River, Henry Fadairo; Delta, Usman Bala Alkali; and Edo.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmed Muhammad, confirmed the ugly development, saying police was on the trail of the kidnappers.
Kogbara, who maintains a column in the Vanguard, was whisked away in the early hours of yesterday by unknown gunmen at her Nkpogu residence in a Honda CRV jeep.
As at press time last night, it could not be confirmed if the kidnappers have established contact with the family to negotiate for ransom.
It would be recalled that Arase had some two weeks earlier warned police commissioners in the Niger Delta states of Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta and Edo, to redouble their anti-crime efforts with a view to nip the menace in the bud as quickly as possible, or face redeployment.
Meantime, the Rivers State Government has condemned the abduction of Dornu Kogbara from the Ogoni ethnic nationality.
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, who spoke through his media aide, Mr Opunabo Nko-Tariah, expressed strong hope that she will be released unhurt.
He said the government was making effort to ensure every resident in the state enjoyed adequate security.
“Although the government is not aware of the issue, no responsible government will brook such acts of criminality. On this premise, the kidnap is roundly condemned, and we believe that by God’s grace, she will come out alive.
“The government is working assiduously to ensure a crime free state, and that is why it has stopped at noting to provide the necessary tools, including the donation of 64 security fitted vans to the police.
“By God’s grace, she will be released in good health”, he assured.