By Emmanuel Obe, Port Harcourt
The police in Rivers State on Tuesday said they have started combing the bush and creeks around Ogoniland and Andoni to locate and rescue the First Class traditional Ruler of Andoni, King Aaron Ikuru, and a lecturer with the University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Jones Ayuwo, who were kidnapped on Sunday evening.
The Rivers State police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, told reporters in Port Harcourt that no contact has yet been made with the kidnappers, whose motives have not been established.
He said the police had commenced intense search and rescue operation for the kidnapped citizens. He promised that the victims would be rescued in “a record time”. He however stated the force were adopting extra care and special tactics so that the victims were not hurt in the rescue operation.
The PPRO added the police would appreciate the cooperation of locals in the mission to free the kidnap victims.
Meanwhile the Rivers State Council of Chiefs has condemned the abduction of King Ikuru. In a statement issued by the Chairman of the Council, King Dandeson Jaja, the Amayanabo of Opobo, the council said it was sacrilegious for anyone to attempt to desecrate the sacred institution of traditional rulers by kidnapping them.
Jaja called on the police and other security agencies to ensure that King Ikuru was rescued and returned to his family and kingdom.
The management of the University of Port Harcourt has also reacted to the kidnap of Dr. Ayuwo and has called for the release of the lecturer. The Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Sam Kpenu, said “Dr. Ayuwo is a very nice man. He has been contributing his own quota to the growth and development of the university. We are appealing to his captors to released him unconditionally,” Kpenu said.
Also, the Linguistics students association at the University of Port Harcourt has appealed to everyone to ensure that Dr. Ayuwo, who the association described as a good man to everything possible to ensure that the lecturer was freed.
The new Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Mr. Friday Igboka has declared war against violent crimes like armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and sea piracy.
The commissioner at his maiden press conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday said that the police command was ready to work with sister security agencies in the state to ensure that criminals were chased out of the state.
He also said that the command would not tolerate human rights abuse by members of the police force.
