Police rescue kidnap victim in Rivers

The Rivers State Police Command has said its operatives have rescued a kidnap victim at Oyigbo axis of the state.

The command’s public relation officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko who, disclosed this in a statement in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said the victim was ambushed by four armed men at a filling station in Oyigbo and taken away.

Koko said, “On the 17th of November, 2014, at about 2023hrs. Operatives of the Command received a distress call from the Command’s Control Room indicating that a gang of armed men numbering about four operating in a black Toyota Corolla car shot sporadically and kidnapped one Madabuchi Julius at Sabbath Filling Station, Oyigbo.

“Operatives were swiftly mobilized to the scene and the hoodlums on sighting the police operatives drove off, but they were given a hot chase by the operatives and subsequently intercepted along Egbu Street, Oyigbo and a gun duel ensued between the police operatives and the hoodlums.

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“The hoodlums eventually abandoned the victim and their operational vehicle with registration number Rivers PHC 938 AH and escaped. The victim was rescued unhurt and the vehicle recovered,” she said.

Koko said investigation is ongoing while efforts are being intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang and recover their operational weapons.