The Rivers state commissioner of police, Olatunji Disu, has drafted heads of tactical teams to go after gunmen who abducted three travelers along the Obiri-Ikwerre-Airport Road, in the Ikwerre local government area of the state
It was gathered that the gunmen blocked the left flank of the road about five minutes from the airport roundabout and whisked away the victims to an unknown destination.

The police public relations officer, Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed that Disu had drafted tactical team commanders and Divisional Police Officers and ordered them to locate the kidnappers.

She said: “I just spoke with the DPO, and he said three persons were kidnapped. The Commissioner of Police has tasked Tactical Team Commanders and the DPOs within that jurisdiction for adequate security measures in place, ensuring that those hoodlums are arrested.”

An eyewitness, Emmanuel Biira, who narrowly escaped the attack, said that three passengers were whisked away from his car, while one of the victims who attempted to resist the assailants was shot before he was forcefully taken away.

Biira explained that he escaped death by the whiskers after he luckily manoeuvred his way out of the dangerous situation and under a vehicle

He said: “Not too far from the airport junction en route to Obiri Ikwerre flyover, I ran into an ambush along with about 8 to 10 other cars. We all saw the kidnappers shooting and we reversed to head back to the airport junction but we were surrounded from the back, front, and all around.

“People jumped out of their cars to escape and some were shot or apprehended. I jumped out to run but there was nowhere to run to and at that moment, the Lord showed me a car, spoke to me, and said ‘enter under this car’ and I obeyed.

“How can a grown man enter fully under a Honda salon car that’s not jacked up without his body being seen? But because I heard His voice, that became my saving grace.

Three kidnappers walked past me, dragging a man and one entered the car I was under to turn off the engine because the car was on.

“I’m alive together because of His mercies and covenant of protection over His children. My wife would have been a young widow if the bullets had hit me. My young children would have been fatherless but God said no. I’m grateful to Him alone. Thank you, Jesus.”