Military kills 4 kidnappers, rescues 3 victims

• Arrests 11 fake Naval personnel

From Tony John, Port Harcourt

TROOPS of 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, yesterday killed four suspected kidnappers and rescued three victims in Iba/Obele, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The victims were abducted on Monday in Rumuji, Emuoha LGA, while travelling along the East-West Road. They were taken to the kid­nappers’ camp in Iba/Obele.

Confirming the report, the As­sistant Director, Public Relations Officer, 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, Captain Eli Lazarus, said soldiers acted on information, closed in on the criminals and engaged them in a shoot-out to rescue the three vic­tims.

He said the three men were res­cued unhurt, while four suspected kidnappers were killed during the operation, adding that the opera­tion was ongoing to clear kidnap­pers and cultists’ camps in the state.

The Brigade assured members of the public that security agencies would not rest on their oars in at­tacking criminals and urged the residents to continue to volunteer information that would assist secu­rity agencies.

Also, the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, has arrested 11 men for allegedly parading themselves as Naval per­sonnel.

The out-going Commander, Port Harcourt, Commodore Sanusi Ibra­him, disclosed this yesterday, while handing over the suspects to the po­lice command.