Several kidnapping suspects ran from their hideout with gunshot wounds after a police team stormed the area in Oyigbo, Rivers State, during a rescue operation.
The successful mission led to the rescue of Mathew John Zephaniah, who had been abducted. According to a statement from the Rivers State Police Command, the victim was found alive and unharmed after security forces raided a forest location in Agbon-Nchia, within Eleme Local Government Area.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state, revealed that the rescue operation was the result of coordinated intelligence efforts.
She noted that officers from various tactical units, the Oyigbo divisional headquarters, and the local vigilante group known as the Organised Security Planning and Advisory Committee (OSPAC) worked together after receiving a report of the kidnapping.
Iringe-Koko said the suspects opened fire on the officers as soon as they noticed the approaching team. However, the police responded with greater firepower, forcing the criminals to retreat, some of them with serious injuries.
She said: “The Rivers State Police Command has successfully rescued one Mathew John Zephaniah, ‘m’ a kidnapped victim, following a coordinated operation by operatives of the Command.
“Acting on credible intelligence, the operatives, drawn from tactical units and Divisions within the Oyigbo Area Command, in collaboration with OSPAC local vigilante groups were swiftly mobilized to the suspected kidnappers’ den at Agbon-Nchia Forest.
“The kidnappers on sighting the Police Operatives, opened fire on them and there was exchange of fire but due to superior firing power of the Police, the kidnappers abandoned the victim and fled with gunshot wounds.”
During the operation, the police recovered items believed to belong to both the victim and the fleeing suspects. These included Mathew Zephaniah’s HP laptop and Redmi phone, along with two additional Android phones and a smart wristwatch suspected to belong to the kidnappers.
Iringe-Koko added: “The victim’s HP Laptop and Redmi Phone were recovered, along with two Android Phones and a Smart Wrist Watch suspected to belong to the kidnappers.
The victim was rescued unhurt and has been debriefed and reunited with his family. The exhibits are currently in Police custody, while concerted efforts are being made to apprehend the fleeing members of the gang.”
