Police rescue 4 kidnapped female corps members in Rivers

By JIMITOTA ONOYUME

PORT HARCOURT— FOUR female corps members, abducted, weekend, in Rivers State, have been rescued by the Police.

Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ben Ugwuegbulam, who confirmed the development to Vanguard, said some hoodlums broke into a transit camp for corps members at Iriebe area of the state and abducted the four female corps members.

He said the hoodlums also stole phones, laptops and other valuables belonging to corps members at the camp before disappearing with their hostages.

Ugwuegbulam said the Police at Oyigbo gave the hoodlums a hot chase, when they got wind of the development, which forced them to abandon their hostages at Oyigbo and escaped into the bush.

He added that some of the corps members, who sustained minor injuries were responding to treatment at a hospital in the state.

“Information was received that a gang of seven armed bandits gained entrance into a National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, transit camp at Iriebe through the fell part of the fence. They stole phones, laptops and cash belonging to the corps members.  The hoodlums also abducted four of the female corps members. The Police at Oyigbo gave them a hot chase towards Egbelu/Oyigbo axis.  They abandoned the girls as the Police closed in on them.”

He added that the Police gunned down an armed robber, weekend, at Elekehia area of Port Harcourt.

Among items recovered from the robbers, he said were their operational vehicle, four expended shell of 5.56mm ammunition, three mobile phones, a spare vehicle number plate and a rifle handle.

Ugwuegbulam said investigation was ongoing to track other members of the gang who  escaped.