Police rescue kidnapped Ex-Shell worker in A’Ibom

The police in Akwa Ibom says it has rescued a 63-year man and retiree of Shell Petroleum Company who was recently kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

The command’s Spokesperson, ASP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Uyo.

John said that he victim, who was abducted on June 17 and held hostage by his abductors, was rescued unhurt in a compound at Ikot Udobong Village in Etim Ekpo.

She said that the rescue followed reliable intelligence information which prompted the command to swing into action.

John said that the kidnappers engaged the police rescue team in a gun duel in the process of rescuing the victim.

“Upon sighting the police, the kidnappers opened fire at them, one of the kidnappers was fatally wounded in the process while the others fled,” she said.

The police spokesperson said that the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Mr Waheed Ayilara, had ordered the command’s SWAT operatives to immediately swing into action.

”Efforts are seriously ongoing to arrest the fleeing members of the gang for possible prosecution,” she said.

John said that preliminary investigations revealed that the kidnappers had initially demanded N50 million as ransom for the release of their captive.

“They later agreed to take N20 million, but I tell you on good authority that no ransom was paid as at the time of the rescue.