The Joint Taskforce operating in the Niger Delta region, Operation
Delta Safe, OPDS, has confirmed the abduction of two expatriates
working on an oil platform operated by the Niger Delta Petroleum
Resources, NDPR, in Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Unknown gunmen had on the early hours of yesterday attacked and
kidnapped two expatriates working with the indigenous oil firm, from
the swampy terrain of Ogbele community in Abua, just two days after
two staff of the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC was
abducted on that same axis, along the Rumuji axis of East-West Federal
High way.
Confirming the development, JTF Spokesperson, Major Ibrahim Abdullahi,
said operatives of the JTF have been mobilized to comb the terrain
with a view of rescuing the victims and apprehending the suspects.
Abdullahi explained that the JTF received information about the
abduction by 8 am on Saturday, 27th April 2019, and had swung into
action immediately.
He assured that efforts have been redoubled to curb kidnapping within
that Orashi axis, while urging the management of Niger Delta Petroleum
Resources, NDPR to provide security on their platforms.
Our men and our resources were mobilized immediately to that area and
they combed the nooks and crannies of the terrain but unfortunately,
we didn’t find the kidnappers and those that were kidnapped.
So we are still putting more effort in conjunction with other security
agencies around that area so that we will apprehend the abductors and
rescue the victims.
We are putting more measures in place to forestall this occurrence
since they are becoming increasing, and we are redoubling our efforts
around that zonal areas to forestall such occurrences.
We advice the management of NPDR to provide security on their
platforms because that was the loopholes the kidnappers used to come
and abduct their workers.
Similarly, the Rivers State Police Command has also confirmed the
abduction of the two expatriates.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Rivers State
Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, said, Yes we are aware of the abduction,
we have launched a manhunt to ensure that they (expatriate) released
unhurt.