The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the kidnapping of three individuals alongside a street resulting in Port Harcourt Worldwide Airport.
The victims had been kidnapped on the Obiri-Ikwerre Highway stretch resulting in the airport late on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
Spokesperson of the command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the incident to the Information Company of Nigeria on Thursday, stated that police had been already in pursuit of the abductors.
“The Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, has tasked our tactical staff commanders and the Divisional Police Officers inside the jurisdiction to implement sufficient safety measures,” she acknowledged.
“These measures have been put in place to make sure that the criminals are apprehended,”
It was gathered that the victims had been touring from the airport space to the Obiri Ikwerre Highway after they had been attacked by suspected bandits positioned on the street.
One of many escapees, Emmanuel Biira, nevertheless, informed NAN that greater than three individuals had been taken from the taxi he boarded.
He stated of the ten automobiles ambushed by the criminals, a couple of of the passengers had been whisked away whereas some managed to flee into the close by bushes alongside the freeway.
“The incident started when our car bumped into an ambush close to the airport junction roundabout as we had been heading to Obi Ikwerre flyover,” he defined.
“We encountered an ambush with eight to 10 vehicles. As we approached the scene, the abductors started taking pictures randomly into the air,”
“As quickly because the taking pictures started, we turned again in the direction of the airport junction, however the kidnappers double-crossed us,”
Biira reported that occupants of different automobiles who tried to flee from the abductors had been shot at and forcibly taken away.
“After the hoodlums crossed us, I jumped out of the automobile to run however there was nowhere to go. However at that second, the Lord confirmed me a automobile to cover behind,”
“So, I rapidly hid underneath the automobile, and as I did, three kidnappers walked by – dragging a person, whereas one in every of them obtained into the automobile I used to be underneath to show off the engine,”
“I’m alive immediately due to God’s mercy and covenant of safety over His youngsters,” he added.
The ecstatic escapee stated that his spouse would have been a younger widow and his youngsters fatherless if one of many stray bullets had hit him.
“I’m immensely grateful to God alone. Thanks, Jesus Christ,” Biira expressed.