RIVERS STATE POLICE COMMISSIONER: TUNDE OGUNSAKIN
Three chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party abducted in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital last week Wednesday regained their freedom yesterday.
The chairman of the party in Port Harcourt Local Government Area, Mr. Ikechi Chinda, a former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Mr. Chinyere Igwe, and Allwell Ihunda were abducted at the Eagle Island area of Port Harcourt while in a meeting.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, who confirmed the release of the trio, said they were set free at different times on Thursday.
Ogunsakin disclosed that while Ihunda regained his freedom in the morning, Igwe and Chinda were released in the evening.
The state commissioner of police said security operatives were working round the clock to ensure that those behind the dastard act are apprehended.
“The three abducted members of the PDP have all been released now. However, we are still on the trail of the abductors, and we shall soon catch up with them. You have to bear with us in this regard, as we cannot release further information on the incident as this might compromise our investigation, which is still ongoing”, Ogunsakin, who only just took charge at the Rivers Police Command last month, said.
The Special Adviser on Media to the state PDP Chairman, Mr. Jerry Needam also confirmed their release, expressing joy that they did not come to any harm.
“The three members of our party that were abducted last Wednesday, have been released’’ he said, adding that ‘’One of them, the Hon. Allwell Ihunwo, was released this morning (Thursday), while the other two were released late in the evening. We are grateful that the three of them were in good health, as no (physical) harm came to them”, he said.
It will be recalled that the abduction of the PDP leaders had generated tension in the already politically charged state as the PDP pointed finger in the direction of the state government and All Progressives Congress.
The party had given the state government a 72-hour ultimatum to ensure that the abducted members were released unhurt or risk the “mother of all protests” from the PDP.
But the Rivers APC and state government separately denied the allegation.