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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Joint Military Security Task Force, (Operation Delta Safe) have rescued a youth leader, Mr Ebitimi Ododo from some armed gunmen at Ikibiri 1 community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.
This just as the tactical squad of the Bayelsa State Command, Operation Puff Adder has in another operation arrested three suspects fingered in the abduction of the Senior Manager, Premium Trust Bank, Yenagoa branch, Danjuma Emeije.
According to investigations, the Nigerian Army, Wednesday morning rescued Ododo from some suspected militants who had taken him to the bush.
Ododo, a top member of the Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) is a leading aspirant in the youth leadership election of Ikebiri 1 community.
Sources said the suspected militants numbering six with high calibre weapons, had stormed the Ikibiri 1 community shooting sporadically to scare the people and abducted Ododo .
The Chairman of MOSIEND, Olodia Clan, Mr Perekebuna Mathew, who confirmed the development explained that the suspected militants had already abducted Ododo, took him to the bush where he was beating, leaving him for dead before the military rescued him.
The gunmen invaded Ikebiri community with a speed boat and a power bike. Nigerian Army got the information and countered them. They ran away but abandoned the speed boat and power bike.”
“They later came back and abducted Ebitimi Ododo and took him to the bush. They flogged him till he became unconscious and left him dead at the waterfront. As I am speaking with you, the Nigerian Army has been able to rescue him and he is in the hospital taking treatment. But we believe he is going to be fine”
In the other operation carried out by Puff Adder, two suspected member of a four-man kidnap gang who were allegedly involved in the 30th June, 2022 abduction Emeije
The operation led by SP Chris Nwaogbo arrested two who were said to have been part of the kidnap gang that collected 60 million ransom from the victim.
One of the suspects is a cyber café owner; Kingsley Innocent aged 31, an indigene of Egbu community in Eche Local Government Area of Rivers State while the other is Godlive Donal aged 24, an indigene of Obaburu community in Omoku Local Government Area of Rivers State.
A relative of the victim, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the arrest and the visit of Emeije to the office of Operation Puff Adder declined to provide more information.
The spokesman of Bayelsa State Police Command, SP Asinim Butswat, simply said “Investigation is on going and we are making progress.”
