The Rivers State Police Command on Thursday officially confirmed the abduction of three individuals along the Obiri Ikwerre Road stretch leading to Port Harcourt International Airport.
The incident occurred on Wednesday when gunmen reportedly ambushed vehicles on the road.
Rivers State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, addressed the media in Port Harcourt, assuring the public that law enforcement is actively pursuing the abductors.
She stated, “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.”
It was reported that the gunmen blocked the left flank of the road, approximately a five-minute drive from the Port Harcourt International Airport roundabout, and ambushed several vehicles.
The assailants shot indiscriminately, leading to the abduction of some vehicle occupants.
An eyewitness, identified as Emmanuel, who narrowly escaped the attack, revealed that three occupants of a public transportation vehicle were forcefully taken, and one victim who resisted was shot before being abducted.
Emmanuel narrated, “Not too far from the Airport Junction 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.”
He continued, “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.”
