Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday afternoon rescued a kidnapped victim on the Omoku-Egbeda Road in Rivers State. Amaechi, who is the immediate former governor of Rivers State, was on his way to Ubimini community in Emohua Local Government Area to address the All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters when he sighted a Lexus SUV abandoned in the bush. The minister, who was leading his convoy, stopped and ordered his security team to comb the forest in search of the occupants of the vehicle. It was during the search that the security personnel in his convoy rescued one of the occupants of the abandoned Lexus Jeep.
The victims turned out to be APC supporters attending the PVC sensitisation rally at Ubimini where Amaechi was to address party supporters. Narrating his ordeal to the minister, the rescued victim, Edi Chinda Edi, said they were on their way to Ubimini for the APC programme when the kidnappers barricaded the expressway and attacked them. Edi said eight of them were in the Lexus jeep when the kidnappers armed with AK47 rifles and other dangerous weapons struck.
He said: “We were eight in the car and they succeeded in kidnapping seven others. While they were beating and forcing us into the bush, I managed to escape into the other side of the forest.” Worried about the safety of other victims who were yet to be found, Amaechi directed some of his security personnel to continue the search and ensure that the remaining victims were rescued and their abductors arrested and prosecuted according to law.
