Police Foil Attempt by Kidnappers to Hijack 15 Seater Bus In Rivers

DSP Nnamdi Omoni, Rivers Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO

Kill Three, Arrest Five as Driver Injures in Gun Duel

Daniel Efe/Port Harcourt

Attempt by kidnappers to hijack a Lagos bound 15-seater commercial bus today, Monday August 5, at 9 am along Rumuji, Emohua Local Government area of East-West road of Rivers State was foiled by gallant Policemen.

Police spokesman, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the incident said that as soon as the kidnappers sighted the Commercial bus, they started firing from the bush to force it to a stop.

Policemen who arrived the scene engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel. Unable to withstand the firepower of the Police, the hoodlums fled into the nearby bush but were given a hot chase into the bush where three of them fell to the bullets, while five of them were arrested.

The arrested five are helping the Police as they are undergoing interrogation.

The Rivers Police Command Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Omoni also said the Police had assist the rest unharmed Passengers to continue their Journey to Lagos.

The Driver of the bus could not continue the Journey because of the bullet wound he sustained during the crossfire between the Police and hoodlums.

Omoni further “The kidnappers had emerged from the bush, shot at the tyre of the bus. Since launching of the “Operation Sting,” we are very much on ground. We sighted them and they opened fire. We return fire, killed three of them and arrested five who are helping us with investigation. “We had to make alternative arrangements for the passengers to continue their Journey to Lagos, while the Driver who sustained minor injury was taken to the hospital.” Omoni.

Our Correspondent reports that Commercial buses have been hijacked on multiple occasions in the Emohua axis of the East-West road and passengers kidnapped for ransom. Today’s incident is one major breakthrough since Governor Nyesom Wike launched “Operation Sting” on July 26, 2019.

Wike said that the initiative is a signal for criminals to understand that there is no hiding place for them in the state.

“Operation Sting is our own specialized security initiative anchored on an integrated and coordinated approach fully funded by the Rivers state government to effectively tackle both the sources and drivers of insecurity.

“The operation is also to fight against every security threat to our state, our persons and our properties in other to create the right social environment to drive our development.

“Under Operation Sting we have taken concrete steps to strengthen the logistics and operational capability of the civil and armed security forces,” he said.

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Also speaking, the commissioner of police in the state, CP Mustapha Dandaura, assured governor Wike of great change with the use of the operational equipment in the next one month.