Police Rescue 17 Passengers From Hijackers In Rivers

About 17 persons, including two children who were travelling in two Port Harcourt-bound buses hijacked by suspected kidnappers along Omerelu in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State have been rescued, the police have said.
Spokesperson of the state Police Command, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the rescue operation to The Tide.
Omoni said the two buses were returning from Lagos and Abuja through the Omerelu-Elele axis.of Rivers State, last Wednesday, when the hoodlums struck.
The police image maker said the hoodlums were smashed by the combined efforts of its Anti-Kidnapping Unit and operatives from the Elele Police Station.
“Our (police) anti-kidnapping unit and men from the Elele Police Station smashed a gang of kidnappers who on the 8th of August at about 9:20pm along the Elele-Owerri Road kidnapped passengers who were coming from Lagos and Abuja through Owerri to Port Harcourt here.
“They were kidnapped and taken into a bush. Through credible intelligence we (police) were able to storm the hideouts where these victims were kept.
“The team busted them (the criminals) and rescued the victims unhurt. No ransom was paid even though the victims are frail and weak,” the Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) said.
Omoni solicited the support of the public in tracking down criminal elements in some communities in Rivers State, even as he said some of the suspects were arrested during the raid.
Narrating their ordeal to newsmen at the state police command, some of the victims said they were kidnapped and kept in captivity for three days without food.
“For three days we did not eat anything. In the night they (the kidnappers) started molesting the ladies. They took everything found on us, phones, monies, jewellery.
“In fact they took our boxers (shots), our ATM cards, took bra, ear rings, shoes, everything. We started praying. In the rain we prayed intensely and today (before their rescue) they gave us food. Three persons to one wrap of foo-foo,” a male victim said.
On her part, a rescued female victim said she has changed her perception of the police following the gallant efforts of the security operatives.
“Those who think the police are not working, today I benefitted from their efforts. I am proud of them (police). They came out boldly and enmasse to rescue us,” she said.
The Tide leant that some of the passengers who sustained gunshot injuries during the kidnap are receiving treatment at various hospitals in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Dennis Naku