4th January, 2024
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
The Rivers State Police Command said it has deployed its operatives to arrest gunmen who kidnapped three persons along the Port Harcourt International Airport road on Tuesday evening.
Some reports had earlier indicated that eight people were abducted by the dare-devil gunmen
But while confirming the abduction, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO of Rivers Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko said three person were abducted.
“I just spoke with the Division Police Officer, DPO, and he said three (3) while the Commissioner of Police, CP, has tasked Tactical team commanders and the DPOs within that jurisdiction for adequate security measures in place, ensuring those hoodlums to be arrested”.
According to the reports, the kidnappers struck around the Port Harcourt International Airport Roundabout on Tuesday evening.
It was gathered that the criminals had blocked the left flank of the road from the airport – some minute’s drive away from the airport roundabout.
It was learnt that all the victims were moving from the airport axis to the Obiri-Ikwerre area before they were attacked by the bandits.
It was also gathered that over 10 cars were involved and that those who were unable to escape from the scene were picked.
One of the victims who escaped the kidnap, Emmanuel Biira, noted that three people were whisked away from his car and that one of them was shot in the head before being taken away.
Biira, who narrowly escaped the attack narrated that the incident happened not too far from the airport junction and that occupants of over 10 vehicles were involved in the incident.
He narrated: “Not too far from the airport junction en route to Obiri Ikwerre flyover, I ran into an ambush along with about 8 to 10 other cars. We all saw the kidnappers shooting and we reversed to head back to the airport junction but we were surrounded already back, front and all around.