The Joint Military Task Force (JTF), code-named ‘Operation Pulo Shield, has rescued four National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Rivers State. The corps members were kidnapped last Thursday at Abonnema, headquarters of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Also, the JTF men, assisted by men of the state command of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), at the weekend rescued two widows, Mrs Mary Bob and Mrs Comfort Bob, from the hands of their abductors.
This is as the men of the VGN have arrested a suspected kidnapper, Gift James, who was alleged to be involved in the abduction of the two widows and wives of the late Thompson Bob of Ihuaba community in Ahoada East Local Government Area.
The Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Hon Charles Benibo, who confirmed the rescue of the four NYSC members, said no ransom was paid before they were freed. Also speaking with journalists at Ahoada town, headquarters of Ahoada-East Local Government Area, the Commandant of the VGN in Ahoada-East, Mr Justine Ayah, said nine suspected kidnappers had on May 25, invaded the house of the late Bob in Ihuaba community about 3am and whisked away the widows.
Ayah disclosed that the kidnappers had asked the family of their victims for a N20 million ransom and added that the hoodlums only reduced the ransom to N18 million when the relatives that they could only pay N3 million. Explaining that his men were on ground in 23 local government areas of the state, the commandant said that they were able to discover that the kidnappers were from the same community with the widows.
He said: “One of the abductors, identified as Gift James, was apprehended by men of the VGN and handed over to the State Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) in Ahoada-East, for further investigation, while one Grass and seven others are currently on the run. “In the course of our investigation, we were able to know that the kidnappers are from the same community with the kidnapped widows.
We were able to found out that the widows were kidnapped in Ahoada- East Local Government Area and taken to a forest in Rumuodogo II community in Emohua local Government Area of the state. “After combing the forest for three consecutive times, we gave a call to the kidnappers, informing them that we knew them already and asked them to release the widows unconditionally and without harm.”
Ayah disclosed that the threat to the traditional ruler of Rumuodogo II community, Chief Ataya Isih, that the entire village would be set ablaze if the widows were not released, prompted the kidnappers to abandon their hostages in the forest and took to their heels.
“The matter was reported to the JTF men and their swift response made the search for the widows in the forest easy and subsequently rescued them,” he added. When contacted, the Assistant Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrest of the kidnapper and the rescue of the two widows.
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Also, the JTF men, assisted by men of the state command of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), at the weekend rescued two widows, Mrs Mary Bob and Mrs Comfort Bob, from the hands of their abductors.
This is as the men of the VGN have arrested a suspected kidnapper, Gift James, who was alleged to be involved in the abduction of the two widows and wives of the late Thompson Bob of Ihuaba community in Ahoada East Local Government Area.
The Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Hon Charles Benibo, who confirmed the rescue of the four NYSC members, said no ransom was paid before they were freed. Also speaking with journalists at Ahoada town, headquarters of Ahoada-East Local Government Area, the Commandant of the VGN in Ahoada-East, Mr Justine Ayah, said nine suspected kidnappers had on May 25, invaded the house of the late Bob in Ihuaba community about 3am and whisked away the widows.
Ayah disclosed that the kidnappers had asked the family of their victims for a N20 million ransom and added that the hoodlums only reduced the ransom to N18 million when the relatives that they could only pay N3 million. Explaining that his men were on ground in 23 local government areas of the state, the commandant said that they were able to discover that the kidnappers were from the same community with the widows.
He said: “One of the abductors, identified as Gift James, was apprehended by men of the VGN and handed over to the State Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) in Ahoada-East, for further investigation, while one Grass and seven others are currently on the run. “In the course of our investigation, we were able to know that the kidnappers are from the same community with the kidnapped widows.
We were able to found out that the widows were kidnapped in Ahoada- East Local Government Area and taken to a forest in Rumuodogo II community in Emohua local Government Area of the state. “After combing the forest for three consecutive times, we gave a call to the kidnappers, informing them that we knew them already and asked them to release the widows unconditionally and without harm.”
Ayah disclosed that the threat to the traditional ruler of Rumuodogo II community, Chief Ataya Isih, that the entire village would be set ablaze if the widows were not released, prompted the kidnappers to abandon their hostages in the forest and took to their heels.
“The matter was reported to the JTF men and their swift response made the search for the widows in the forest easy and subsequently rescued them,” he added. When contacted, the Assistant Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrest of the kidnapper and the rescue of the two widows.
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