Five gunmen, yesterday kidnapped the Chairman of Diobu Timber Sellers Association, Chief Job Obire and another man at the timber shed Okwelle waterside, Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Vanguard gathered that, before taking their victims away, the men robbed many people of their handsets and ransacked a nearby shop removing various items, after manhandling a woman in the area.
Confirming the incident, Police PRO Rita Inoma-Abbey said, “We learnt of the kidnap today, (yesterday) and we are on the heels of the kidnappers and of course we shall get them in no time.â€
Eye witnesses said the men drove to the area in a bus and pretended to be there to purchase planks. The men who concealed the weapons in their clothes later asked the traders to direct them to the chairman of the market.
Within minutes, the chairman and a man were whisked away as the gunmen wielded shot guns and pump action riffles, telling people to steer clear or get hurt. It was in the course of fleeing that they looted the shop and snatched handsets.
Meanwhile, wife of the son of a former commissioner in the state, Mrs. Enemi Eremie who was kidnapped, Monday, along with her two children, have been rescued by security men.
The woman and her children were abducted at Elelewon area of the city and rescued at Ojimba Community in Okrika by a crack team of security men, following information and surveillance by the police.