By Perez Brisibe

The four Chinese nationals kidnapped in December at Libreville, Gabon, last Thursday, have regained their freedom at the deep waters of Escravos in Warri South-West local government area of Delta State.

The victims who are employees of two fishing vessels belonging to Sigapeche, a Sino-Gabonese company were reportedly abducted along the waterways off Owendo port in Libreville, Gabon’s capital city while a captain was said to have been killed during the incident.

The Chinese consulate in Lagos, Nigeria had in a statement on its website, said the consulate general in Lagos cooperated with the relevant agencies to carry out rescue efforts and the hostages were released safely adding that the Consul-general, Chu Maoming visited the freed sailors before they went home.

Giving details of the incident yesterday, a security source disclosed that the victims were rescued in the deep sea of Escravos by a combined team of operatives of the Joint Task Force code-named Operation Delta Safe.

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The source who is an operative of the State Security Service, SSS, said the rescue operations were made successful following intelligence information in collaboration with the Interpol.

The source who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to speak with the press, said: “Yes, the four Chinese were rescued in the Escravos area of Delta.

“Operatives made up of the army and navy in collaboration with other sister agencies along the West Africa waterways and Interpol, were able to track the hoodlums and subsequently rescued the victims. ”

However, the source was silent on how the rescue operation was carried out and if any arrest was made.

As at press time, several efforts to speak with the JTF spokesperson, Major Jonah Unuakhalu was fruitless.

Vanguard News Nigeria.