| Joint Task Force in Rivers State yesterday rescued five hostages from locations in Bori and Khana areas of Ogoniland. JTF had stormed the areas based on intelligence reports in the early hours of yesterday and arrested three suspects. This happened just as the Managing Director of Douglas Clinic, Chief M. D. Douglas was kidnapped from his clinic when some armed men stormed the clinic and took their victim away to an undisclosed location. JTF rescued two adults and three children of Montessori Nursery and Primary School in Elelenwo. The dates they were kidnapped were not known as at the time of going to press. JTF spokesman, Lt. Colonel Sagir Musa, who confirmed the incident, said one of the suspected kidnappers arrested tried to jump out of the vehicle conveying him to their office and was instantly shot dead. He said they have in accordance with the tradition of their mode of operation, handed those arrested to the relevant authorities for proper investigation after which those indicted by evidence through investigation would be prosecuted. He listed items recovered from the suspected militants at their hideout where they had kept their victims to include locally made pistol and a cartridge among others. Meanwhile, the whereabouts of the mother of Hon. Barry Mpigi, Mrs. Victoria is still unknown after she was kidnapped from her village in Ogoniland. The hoodlums were said to have made contacts with the family and demanded N300 million. Sagir said there was no information yet on the woman but assured that they were on top of the situation and were committed to ridding the State of criminal elements. Information getting to THISDAY is to the effect that the people who kidnapped the woman are from the same village though no arrests have been made but that they are closing in on the perpetrators. |
Dec132008