The Rivers State Police Command said its operatives rescued a businessman identified as Madabuchi Julius, who was kidnapped by a four-man gang at a filling station in the Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The police said the man was abducted when the miscreants who were driving in a black Toyota car, stormed the area and started shooting indiscriminately before executing their plan.
The man’s rescue, the police said, followed a distress call sent to the command’s control room about the activities of the hoodlums on November 17, 2024, after which operatives were mobilised to the scene.
The command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Wednesday.
The statement read, “On November 17, 2014, at about 2023hrs, operatives of the command received a distress call from the room indicating that a gang of armed men numbering about four operating in a Black-coloured Toyota Corolla car shot sporadically and kidnapped one Madabuchi Julius at Sabbath Filling Station, Oyigbo.
“Operatives were swiftly mobilised 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. Then, a gun duel ensued between the police operatives and the hoodlums.
“The hoodlums could not withstand the police’s superior firepower and 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. He has since reunited with his family.”
Iringe-Koko, however, said an investigation is ongoing while concerted efforts are being intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang and recover their operational weapons.
In a related development, she said on November 18, 2014, operatives of the command acted on credible information, coordinated a covert operation at St. Lorinta Street in Oyigbo LG, and arrested one Gabriel Morris.
The state police spokesperson stated, “During interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a member of a syndicate that has been terrorizing Oyigbo and its environs in recent times.”
Items recovered from the suspect include one locally-made Pistol and a quantity of weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp.
She added, “Investigation is ongoing, while concerted efforts are intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate.
“This successful operation further demonstrates the effectiveness of the Rivers State Police Command in combating kidnapping and all other forms of crime in the state.”
