Bayelsa Police rescue kidnapped expatriate, kill one

The Bayelsa State Police Command says it has rescued an expatriate abducted from a construction site in the Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that the kidnappers stormed the construction site on Saturday at Igbedi/Amassoma Road in Sagbama Local Government Area to abduct expatriates working on the site.

In a statement, the Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, said one of the kidnappers was shot dead by the security personnel guarding the construction site.

He, however, noted that in the heat of the operation, one of the expatriates was abducted and whisked away through the creeks by other kidnappers.

Butswat revealed that a joint team of the Joint Task Force (JTF), the Army, the Navy and the Department of State Security (DSS) were reportedly swung into action immediately they were alerted of the situation.

He said the combined security team tracked the kidnappers to Ogoinbiri waterways, engaging the criminals in a gun duel.

The Spokesperson further stated that the abducted expatriate was rescued unhurt while some kidnappers escaped with bullet wounds into the creeks.

According to him, “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,

“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.”

He further advised medical doctors, other health workers, and native doctors to alert the Command before treating gunshot wounds.