Gunmen Kidnap Three Travellers In Rivers

Published

2 years ago

January 4, 2024

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of three travellers along the Obiri-Ikwerre – Airport Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state by gunmen on Wednesday.

It was gathered that the gunmen blocked the left flank of the road which is about a five-minute drive from the Port Harcourt International Airport roundabout and reportedly ambushed some vehicles.

The gunmen shot indiscriminately, while they abducted some of the occupants of the vehicles.

Spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident on Thursday.

Iringe-Koko said the Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, has drafted tactical team commanders and Divisional Police Officers to the area to rescue the victims.

She said, “I just spoke with the Divisional Police Officer who confirmed that three persons were kidnapped.

“The Commissioner of Police has asked Tactical Team Commanders and the DPOs within that jurisdiction to put adequate security measures in place, ensuring that the hoodlums are arrested.”

Meanwhile, an eyewitness simply identified as Emmanuel who narrowly escaped the attack, revealed that three occupants of a car used for public transportation were dragged out and taken away.

Emmanuel added that one of the victims who attempted to resist the gunmen was shot before being taken away.

He said he escaped death after manoeuvring his way out of the situation and hiding under a vehicle.

He said, “Not too far from the Airport J8nction en route to Obiri Ikwerre Flyover, I ran into an ambush along with about eight to 10 other cars.

“We all saw the kidnappers shooting and we reversed to race back to the Airport Junction but we were surrounded from the back, front and all around.

“People jumped out of their cars to escape and some were shot or apprehended.

“I jumped out to run but there was nowhere to run to and at that moment, the Lord showed me a car, spoke to me and said ‘enter under this car’, I obeyed.

“How can a grown man enter fully under a Honda salon car that’s not jacked up without his body being seen?

“But because I heard His voice, that became my saving grace. Three kidnappers walked past me, dragging a man and one entered the car.

“I’m alive today because of His mercies and covenant of protection over His children.

“My wife would have been a young widow if the bullets had hit me. My young children would have been fatherless but God said no.”

The PUNCH earlier reported that gunmen ambushed a convoy of Daewoo workers along the Ahoada/Abua East-West axis in Rivers State.

The gunmen shot four soldiers, and two drivers dead while they reportedly kidnapped two expatriates of the company recently.

It was gathered that the incident occurred around 9.30 am.

The PUNCH gathered that the victims were on their way to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital when they were ambushed.

Police Declare Two Wanted Over Attack On Ahoada-East LGA Administrator, Theft

Published

2 hours ago

July 6, 2025

Editor

The Rivers State Police Command has declared two top officials of the Ahoada-East Local Government Area wanted over their alleged involvement in the brutal attack on the LGA’s Sole Administrator, Hon. Goodluck Iheanachor.

Declared wanted are Mr. Hector Ekakita, Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Ahoada-East LGA, and Mr. Aloni Olodi, Chief of Staff (COS) of the LGA.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the police said the duo is wanted for alleged criminal conspiracy, stealing, assault occasioning harm, and attempted murder. The offenses stem from a violent incident that occurred on June 20, 2025, at the Ahoada-East Council Secretariat.

According to the statement, Ekakita and Olodi, alongside a group of about 30 others, allegedly conspired to assault the Sole Administrator, inflicted injuries on him, forcibly obtained his signature under duress, stole his mobile phones and sensitive documents, and carted away both personal and official property from his office.

The police revealed that despite repeated invitations, the suspects have failed to appear for questioning, prompting the declaration.

“The Rivers State Police Command has declared the following individuals wanted… Mr. Hector Ekakita – Chief Security Officer (CSO), Ahoada-East LGA, and Mr. Aloni Olodi – Chief of Staff (COS), Ahoada-East LGA,” the statement read.

“Their actions resulted in bodily harm to the administrator, who continues to receive medical treatment.”

The Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, psc, mnips, has urged the suspects to report to the Police State Headquarters on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, without further delay.

He also warned that anyone found aiding or shielding the suspects would face the full weight of the law.

“The Rivers State Police Command remains steadfast in its commitment to justice and maintaining public peace and safety,” the statement concluded.
(VANGUARD)

Metro

10 Die In Ogun Night Bus Crash

Published

7 hours ago

July 6, 2025

Editor

No fewer than 10 persons have been confirmed dead, while three others sustained injuries in a lone crash involving a Mitsubishi bus on the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Expressway.

Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, spokesperson for the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) in Ogun, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday.

Akinbiyi said the accident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on Friday at Ome Bridge, Awa, along Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan highway in Ijebu North Local Government Area.

He stated that the lone crash involved a Mitsubishi bus, registration number EJ829-LSR, which was conveying 15 passengers at the time.

According to Akinbiyi, seven male and three female passengers died. Three others were injured, while a toddler and one adult escaped unhurt.

He said preliminary findings indicate that overspeeding and wrongful overtaking led to the accident.

“Eyewitnesses said the driver wrongly overtook another vehicle at high speed and could not regain control after noticing an oncoming vehicle.

“The driver veered off the road, hit an abandoned gravel pile beside the bridge, and plunged the vehicle into the river,” Akinbiyi explained.

He said the deceased were taken to Ijebu-Ode General Hospital’s morgue, while the injured were also being treated at the same facility.

The spokesperson urged motorists to avoid speeding and to refrain from travelling at night, stressing the importance of road safety at all times.

Metro

NDLEA Detains Couple, 2 Daughters For Alleged Drug Running

Published

8 hours ago

July 6, 2025

Editor

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Sunday said it has arrested and detained a businessman, his wife and two daughters over alleged drug peddling.

A statement by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in Abuja, stated that a family friend of theirs was also taken into custody.

Babafemi said that this came after an investigation revealed that the family ran a major illicit drug distribution network in Lagos involving a family friend.

“The couple was first arrested on Friday, June 13, by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) in Ojo area of the state and transferred to NDLEA along with 277.5kg of skunk.

“While they were still being investigated in custody, credible intelligence revealed that the family business was going on in his house.

“This led to a raid of their home and a packing store where 231kg of the same substance was recovered on Tuesday, July 1.”

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, July 2, intercepted a frequent flyer for drug trafficking.

Babafemi said that the suspect specialised in conveying goods for customers from Nigeria to Italy and vice versa.

“He was found to have hidden 7,660 pills of tramadol 225mg and 200mg inside food items packed among other goods he was conveying to Italy.

“He claimed that he was to be paid the sum of 800 euros upon successful delivery of the drug consignment in Italy,” he said.