Gunmen release Nigerian hostage in Bayelsa

By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa—A Nigerian, identified as Austin Giwa, abducted Monday, on the Atlantic coast of Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, alongside four expatriates believed to be Korean nationals, has been released by the kidnappers.

However, the Korean captives, identified as J. S. Chae, J. H. Kim, K. H. Kim and P. W. Lee, were yet to be released and their whereabouts remain unknown despite the manhunt launched by security operatives for their kidnappers, whose Monday action, rattled the relative peace in the coastal enclave.

The state governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, yesterday, said security chiefs in the state had intensified effort to secure the quick release of the hostages.

Condemning the act of criminality, the state governor, in statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said: “We will make the state too hot for kidnappers to carry out their trade. Bayelsa State will not tolerate any form of kidnapping and we will do everything within our power to arrest the ugly trend.”

The victims were kidnapped when gunmen raided a Korean firm, Hyundai Fabrication Company, at Okpoama, Brass council of the state.

It was gathered that after blindfolding their captives and moving them to an unknown destination, the gunmen changed their minds and released their Nigerian victim.

The victim, who was blindfolded, was reportedly dumped in the mangrove swamps close to Odioma creek on the Okpoama waterway after identifying himself as a Nigerian from Brass.

“He was released at 5.30pm, about one hour, thirty minutes after their abduction. A woman, who was fishing in the river saw him where he was tied and dumped and rescued him. She took him to the police station where he made a statement,” a source said.