Police rescue 14 passengers kidnapped in Rivers

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have rescued 14 passengers, who were kidnapped on Thursday by gunmen.

Recall that the passengers were kidnapped at Rumuji in Emohua Local Government Area of the state by their captors.

It was gathered that the heavily armed gunmen waylaid the bus, which belongs to a popular transport company and dragged all occupants into a nearby bush from where they were whisked to an unknown destination.

The abductors, who had earlier contacted the family of the victims, demanded one million naira on each of the passengers before they could be released.

But the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, while speaking with newsmen on Friday, said the rescue was made possible by a well-meaning Nigerian, who gave information to the police on the whereabouts of the kidnap victims.

Omoni disclosed that the police swung into action immediately, combed the bush before engaging the hoodlums in a shoot-out.

“During the shootout, they later abandoned the victims and as I speak with you, they have all been rescued. We were able to get information from a well-meaning Nigerian, which helped us to rescue them.

“We were able to do this less than 24 hours after they (passengers) were kidnapped in Rumuji,” the state police spokesman stressed.