Bayelsa Police Rescue Woman After Nearly One Month In Kidnappers’ Den

Bayelsa State Police Command has rescued a 42-year-old woman, Esther Chinedu, after she spent nearly one month in kidnappers’ captivity in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

Police Commissioner Ajao Adewale said the woman was abducted on July 28 after suspected kidnappers entered her phone shop in Amassoma under the guise of wanting to buy an item.

He said intelligence gathering helped the command track the kidnappers and their ransom negotiations, after the gang initially demanded 100 million naira before reducing it to 20 million naira.

Adewale said operatives from the Crime Response Squad stormed the kidnappers’ hideout in Ogumbri Forest at about 1:45 a.m., rescuing the woman unhurt and arresting a 33-year-old suspect.

The police commissioner said the suspect, identified as Mark from Akemfa 1 community, confessed to taking part in the abduction and explained how the gang moved the victim by road and boat to the forest camp.

He added that the operation followed weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance as the police intensified efforts to track down the remaining members of the kidnapping gang.