THE police have rescued the Port Harcourt City Local Council Chairman, Mr. Azubuike Nmerokini, from gunmen who abducted him late Tuesday night.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Rita Inoma-Abbey, who confirmed the incident, said the son of the council chairman called the police to notify them of the abduction.
The Guardian learnt that shortly after the abduction, the gunmen contacted their cohorts in the creek to deploy a boat at the Rumuolumeni jetty, which would be used to convey the chairman to where he would be held hostage until ransom was paid to secure his release.
Considering the grave security implication of the abduction, policemen were deployed to comb the Government Reservation Area Phase II, Wimpey and the Rumuolumeni axis of Port Harcourt, to search for the abductors and thwart their act.
Fortunately for the chairman, some policemen noticed his Hilux vehicle as it was heading towards Iwofe jetty and alerted their colleagues and JTF troops stationed in the area.
The moment the gunmen realised they were being chased by the police, a gun fight that lasted several minutes ensued.
The hoodlums decided to abandon the chairman inside his vehicle, which they used to convey him and escaped. The police later rescued him unhurt in the early hours of yesterday.
The police spokesperson explained that items recovered from the scene were three AK-47 rifles with one walkie-talkie. Other items were 25 rounds of live ammunition and one Mazda 626 car.
The back windscreen of the car was riddled with bullets.
Meanwhile, whereabouts of Chief Augustine Ordu, father of the lawmaker representing Obio-Akpor Constituency I, Mr. Collins Ordu, remain unknown.
The 67-year-old was abducted from his residence at Ekere Street, Rumuobiakani, Port Harcourt, at about 7: 00am on Sunday by gunmen.
A source close to the family revealed yesterday that the abductors had contacted the lawmaker but did not demand for ransom.
Mrs. Inoma-Abbey said even the whereabouts of an Opobo chief and pharmacist, Noble Diri, remain unknown as well.