18th September, 2016
Seven had earlier escaped from the kidnappers on their own.
The victims had spent 16 days in the kidnappers den.
According to Omoni Nnamdi, the spokesman for the Rivers Command, “The oil workers were rescued unhurt due largely to the efforts of the Command’s Tactical Units, who, at the early hours of today, Sunday September 18, engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun battle which lasted for one and half hours. The victims were rescued while the hoodlums took to flight abandoning their hostages. Efforts are on to arrest and bring them to justice”.
The Command revealed further that “the last of the hostages, seven in number were rescued unhurt. No ransom was paid. They have been debriefed and are receiving medical attention in the hospital.”
According to the Police Command, investigation is on-going at the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit.
The names of the fourteen (14)oil workers were given as Messrs. Uche Obuh, Oliseh Onabrakpeya, Bisong Jacob, John Ambrose, Elijah Walter, Onah Onyekachukwu and Okoro Emmanuel.
Others were Oliver Onah, Collins Joseph, Ndifreke Elkannah, Raphael Odili, Babatunde Joseph, Unah Gregory and Double Chief.
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Francis M. Odesanya appealed to residents of the state to have confidence in his ability to reduce crime to the barest minimum in the state.
He urged them to go about their lawful businesses without fear, as the Command has been repositioned and re-energized to battle perpetrators of heinous crimes.
Our correspondent learnt that for more than a week, the Police had closed in on the abductors but waited patiently for an opportunity to strike to avoid casualties.
Nnamdi had confided in PMNEWS in an exclusive phone interview last week that the intensive combing of the bushes had yielded positive result but declined to give details.
“I can only tell you that we have closed in on the abductors but we are careful not engage them in a gun duel to avoid fatalities. We want to rescue the victims alive. It is just a matter of time there would be good news,” he stated.
The oil 14 workers were kidnapped Friday,September 2, afternoon around the now dangerous Omoku-Elele link road.
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt