Gunmen abduct commissioner’s mother in Rivers

Gunmen, on Saturday, kidnapped the mother of the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr. Austin Tam-George.

The 85-year-old woman, Madam Patience Tam-George, was kidnapped in Okrika.
According to reports, she was kidnapped at about 8.55pm, while returning from Church, at Giogioma, in Okrika, Okrika Local Government Area.
Tam-George, who confirmed the abduction, said his mother was kidnapped on her way from Church.
He added: “She is 85 years old and her name is Patience. I’m appealing to her abductors to release my mother unhurt. My mother is a harmless woman. My mother cannot hurt anyone. She went to church, as she had been doing for years; just to worship God.”
A source, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said: “The kidnappers have contacted the family of our aged mother, but we have no further information on what was discussed. We also do not have any information on whether they have demanded for any ransom."
The spokesman of Rivers State Police Command, Ahmad Mohammad, said there was a kidnap, he however couldn’t confirm if it was the commissioner’s mum. He said the information given to the police didn’t suggest that the victim is the mother of the commissioner.
He said in a text message: “There was a reported case of kidnapping. A woman was kidnapped at Okrika, but she is not the mother of the personality you said. Efforts are on to safely rescue the victim.”