The Rivers State Police Command said its operatives have rescued a businessman, 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 Command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Wednesday.
She 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 Police said the man’s rescue came after a distress call was received at the command’s control room about the activities of the hoodlums on November 17, 2024, after which operatives were mobilised to the scene.
“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”, Iringe-Koko said.
However, the hoodlums could not withstand the superior firepower of the police 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”, the spokeswoman said, adding however that 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, operatives of the command, acting on credible information, coordinated a covert operation at St. Lorinta Street in Oyigbo LG, and arrested one Gabriel Morris.
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 that investigation is ongoing, while concerted efforts are intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate.
