Security agents rescue abducted expatriate in Bayelsa

By Victory Useh, Yenagoa

A combined team of security agents have rescued an expatriate who was abducted from a construction site in Bayelsa State, local authorities say.

According to investigations, the kidnappers invaded the construction site at Igbedi/Amassoma Road in Sagbama Local Government Area in a bid to abduct expatriates working on the site.

Security operatives on guard tried to repel the attack, killing one of the kidnappers in the process.

The repelled attack notwithstanding, the kidnappers were able to abduct one of the expatriates and whisked him away through the creeks.

The Joint Task Force (JTF), the Army, the Navy and the Department of State Security (DSS) were reportedly alerted of the incident and immediately swung into action.

The combined team were able to track the kidnappers to the Ogoinbiri waterways where they engaged them in a gun battle that lasted several minutes.

The abducted expatriate was rescued unhurt while some of the kidnappers were inflicted with bullets wounds, though they escaped into the creeks.

Police spokesman Mr Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the incident, said security operatives are on the trail of the fleeing kidnappers.

‘On 30th October 2021, at about 0800 hours, an unspecified number of armed men suspected to be kidnappers stormed a construction site along Igbedi/Amassoma Road, Sagbama Local Government Area, Bayelsa State,’ Butswat said in a statement.

‘The security operatives on guard at the Construction site engaged the kidnappers in a gun battle, shot and killed one of them. The kidnappers abducted one expatriate, an engineer working with the Construction Company and whisked away with him through the waterways.

‘The JTF, Navy, Army and other security agencies were alerted and subsequently, at about 0950 hours, the Navy engaged the kidnappers in a fierce gun battle along Ogoinbiri waterways and rescued the victim unhurt. The kidnappers escaped with varying degrees of bullet wounds. Efforts are being intensified to arrest the fleeing kidnappers.

‘The Command hereby advises Medical Doctors, other health workers and Native Doctors against the treatment of gunshots wounds without alerting the Police,’ he said.