Kidnappers Release Four Abducted NEMA Staff, As Bandits kill 10 In Katsina Communities Tuesday

The four abducted staffs of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), who were kidnapped last Tuesday in Obua-Adual Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State, have regained their freedom.

The NEMA senior emergency workers, were in the state to carry out an enumeration exercise when their car was ambushed by unknown gunmen.

Though, one of the NEMA staff, Mr. Minafel Clever Ikisikpo, escaped after he was shot on the leg, the remaining four officials who were kidnapped and released are Julius Alunomoh, Damian Egwu, Olisa Ojukwu and Chidiebere Wendy, the only female staff.

The kidnappers, last Thursday, demanded N40 million as a ransom for their victims.

When contacted, the Leader of NEMA Team that work tirelessly towards the release of kidnapped victim Mr. Vincent Owan told PRNigeria that the abducted colleagues were successfully released unhurt.

Vincent Owan who is also the Director of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) thanked NEMA management and staff for their steadfastness in prayers for the release of their co-workers.

“I must thank the Director-General NEMA, Engr Mustapha Maihaja for working round the clock in facilitating the release of our colleagues. Most of our staff and families had been on vigil. It was a very harrowing experience for all of us, but the Almighty God did not abandon us. We, therefore, give him a resounding glory,” he said.

When asked if the N40 million ransom was paid to secure the NEMA staff freedom, Mr. Owan said what matters now is that their colleagues have been released and have been reunited with them.

“The most important thing now is not whether the ransom was paid or not. We are very delighted to see them back. Though they are hale and hearty on the surface, there is a need for them to undergo psychological assessments and counseling due to the trauma of been forcefully taken into hostage. We want them to be stabilized as soon as possible,” he said.

Also speaking on the freed victims, the national chairperson of Women Commission of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Hafsat Shuaibu commended the management of NEMA for the prompt response in ensuring the release of their staff.

Hafsat who is also a staff of NEMA called on the Federal Government to approve the condition of service of the agency to cover risk and hazard allowances for the emergency workers.

“We must commend the management of NEMA for their diligence and prompt response to the plight of kidnapped staff. The incident cannot deter us from responding to disasters and emergency situations anywhere in the country because that is our professional calling. We nevertheless find it necessary to call on the government to approve our condition of service to cater for the nature of our jobs as we operate mostly in most difficult terrains attending to victims of disasters and emergencies.”

Meanwhile, The police in Katsina State have confirmed the killing of 10 persons by bandits at Gobirawa and Sabawa villages in Safana Local Government Area of the state.

This is contained in a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Gambo Isah, on Wednesday in Katsina.

He said that the bandits came on about 150 motorcycles at about 6.10 p.m on Tuesday, and attacked the two communities.

Isah also said that the bandits rustled a number of animals and took away other valuables after killing the Innocent persons.

He revealed that the command immediately dispatched police patrol teams to the affected communities, engaged the hoodlums in gun duel and chased them away.

According to him, the police are making efforts to arrest the hoodlums.

“We will do everything possible to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice and bringing to an end the activities of these rascals”, he said. NAN