Nigerian police rescue k*dnapped corps member

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command on Monday rescued a corps member, Helen (surname withheld), who was kidnapped at the corpers’ lodge in Omademe, Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.

A group of unknown gunmen had stormed the residence of the corps members at about 3am on Friday and whisked her away in an unmarked car.

It was gathered that the incident caused panic among corps members in the area, even as the community’s security group joined forces with the police to search for the victim.

Speaking with newsmen at the police division in Igwuruta (Ikwerre LGA), the victim said she was starved of food for all the three days she was held by the criminals.

Helen, who is from Kogi State, said her abductors moved her from one location to the other throughout her stay in the bush.

“Three days ago (Friday), at about 3am, some armed men came into our lodge in Omademe in Ikwerre Local Government Area and took me away.

“I did not know exactly where they took me to. They (kidnappers) tortured me and for the three days that I was in the bush, I was not given anything to eat,” she stressed amid tears.

Helen, who was looking pale when she was rescued, has been taken to the hospital for treatment.

It was learnt that the kidnappers had earlier demanded N50m ransom before the police stormed their hideout and engaged them in a shootout.

Also, the immediate past caretaker committee chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, who spoke with newsmen on the matter, said he alerted the police immediately he was informed about the abduction.

Nwanosike stated that the local security outfit in Ikwerre was mobilised to join the police in the search for Helen, even as he commended the brave effort of the security agents during the shootout with the kidnappers.

“The kidnappers abandoned their victim and ran away due to the superior firepower of the police,” he said.

He warned kidnappers and other criminals in Ikwerre LGA and other parts of the state to repent and embrace the amnesty programme put in place by the state government.

Nwanosike said that the 60-day grace given to kidnappers, armed robbers and cultists to repent and embrace amnesty would soon elapse, adding that criminals who fail to change their ways would face the wrath of the law.

When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the rescue of the corps member and promised to speak on the matter later.

“It is correct that the corps member that was kidnapped in Ikwerre has been rescued. I will speak on it later,” Omoni said.

Punch