Police rescue abducted corps member

Officers of the Rivers State Police Command have rescued a corps member on Monday, September 26 after she was kidnapped from the corper's lodge in Omademe, Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.The kidnap victim being taken to the hospital

 

The victim identified as Helen (surname withheld) was abducted after unknown gunmen stormed the residence at about 3am on Friday, September 23, taking her away in an unmarked car.

Pandamonium was unleashed in the community as panic reigned among the corps members. The security group for the community immediately joined forces with the police to search for the victim.

Helen revealed that she was starved of food throughout the three days she was held by the criminals and was moved from one location to another.

“Three days ago (Friday), at about 3am, some armed men came into our lodge in Omademe in Ikwerre Local Government Area and took me away.

“I did not know exactly where they took me to. They (kidnappers) tortured me and for the three days that I was in the bush, I was not given anything to eat,” she said amid tears.

The victim who was looking pale and very weak following her rescue, was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment.

The kidnappers are reported to have demanded the sum of N50 million as ransom before the police stormed their hideout while rescuing the victim and engaged them in a shootout.

Also speaking with newsmen on the matter, the former caretaker committee chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, said he informed the police of the abduction as soon as he was alerted.

He stated that the local security in Ikwerre was immediately mobilised to combine forces with the police in the search for Helen while commending the brave efforts of the security agents during the shootout with the kidnappers.

“The kidnappers abandoned their victim and ran away due to the superior firepower of the police,” he said.

 

Mr Nwanosike went on to warn other criminals especially kidnappers in the Local Government as well as other parts of the state to embrace the amnesty programme which has been put in place by the state government and repent from their evil ways.

He implored that they change their ways within the 60-day grace which have been given to them as it would soon elapse, stressing that those who fail to change their ways would face the wrath of the law.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed that the corps member had indeed been rescued, promising to speak on the matter at a later time.