A Pakistani, Mr Mohammed Tahir, a construction worker for Gitto Construction Company, kidnapped in Ogoniland, was yesterday released after more than four weeks in captivity.
Also released was the Operations Supervisor with Elf Oil, Peter Agwuna, kidnapped on August 1 on his way from Church.
Tahir, said to be in charge of dredging in the road building linking Ogoni to Bonny, was kidnapped after a protracted disagreement between the Italian company and communities where youth allegedly asked for N1 billion before they would allow the job to go on.
After the workers were stopped for two days, some people numbering eight, allegedly stormed the living quarters of Tahir and fired sporadically for hours, before escaping into the creeks in a waiting boat with the Pakistani.
Although it could not be ascertained, THISDAY learnt that a ransom was paid to Tahir’s captors before he was released. He was allegedly taken to a place near Kpor Primary School and asked to take a commercial motor bikepopularly called okada, to the police station at Kpor.It was the Divisional Police officer at Kpor, Gokana Local Government area who allegedly took him to his employers.
Meanwhile, the Police has said pirates at the Bonny channels attacked passenger boats, took it over and dispossessed its occupants of valuables, though no life was lost.
The release and attack on the boat were confirmed byPolice Public Relations Officer, Mrs Ireju Barasua.