Barely 72 hours after five dredging workers were kidnapped in Bayelsa, they regained freedom on Monday following the combined efforts of the Nigerian police force and the youths from the Southern Ijaw local government Area.
The kidnapped workers are employees of Beks Kimse Nig. Ltd and M. Sidon Ltd at Opuama in Southern Ijaw local government Area, and we’re released by their abductors at Nembe area of the state.
The Five indigenous workers were last Friday abducted by gunmen along the creek of Opuama in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State and a sum of N6 million ransom was demanded by the abductors.
The dredging firm is said to be handling NDDC sponsored shore protection and reclamation work at the erosion troubled riverside town of Opuama and identified as Inoku Godwin, Sam Ede, Jackson Ibani among others are from Bayelsa and Rivers states.
A source close to the Contracting firm claimed the abducted workers were rescued at about 3pm on Monday after closed negotiation and payment of ransom. It was gathered that the rescued workers have returned to Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The suspected kidnappers were alleged to have also carried out some attacks on passenger boats and contract staff of some oil multinationals including the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). A source claimed security personnel including the Joint Military Task Force and the anti-kidnapping squad of the Nigerian Police have refused to act on the matter.
Contacted on the development, the Bayelsa state police spokesman, Mr.Alex Akhigbe, confirmed that the Indigenous Dredging workers was released by 7 pm on Monday but without ransom.
