In a daring operation, Rivers State Police successfully rescued renowned hotelier, Mr. John Sunny, who had been abducted by gunmen from his Port Harcourt residence.
Despite the victim’s family paying a hefty N25 million ransom in dollars, the miscreants kept him captive for 18 agonizing days.
The State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, revealed the shocking details during his first media briefing of the year on Tuesday.
Mr. Sunny, shot three times during the abduction, endured untreated injuries while in the kidnappers’ hideout until his family, in desperation, reached out to the police on December 30.
“It was at this stage that the wife of the victim decided to inform the police, on December 30,” Disu stated.
Quest Times also learned that police efforts intensified as they tracked down the kidnappers, who, aware of the investigators’ pursuit, changed the colours of their two operational vehicles.
However, the police successfully recovered both vehicles after identifying their characteristics.
He added that yesterday, in a well-coordinated operation, police officers raided the kidnappers’ hideout in the Agbonchia-Oyigbo forest, located in Eleme Local Government Area.
The victim was safely rescued, and during the exchange of gunfire, one kidnapper sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment.
“The operation was successful, the victim was rescued and one of the kidnappers while exchanging fire with officers was injured and is undergoing treatment,” he stated.
In addition to Mr. Sunny’s rescue, the police confiscated an AK-47 rifle, two magazines loaded with 44 rounds of live ammunition, and the two operational vehicles used by the criminals.
Commissioner Disu also emphasized that these kidnappers had a unique method of collecting ransom – in food flasks.