POLICE RESCUE 42-YEAR-OLD EBONYI WOMAN AFTER 3 WEEKS IN BAYELSA KIDNAPPERS’ DEN
……..One suspect arrested as CP commends VCRU operatives for forest, river operation.
By Chris Mark
The Bayelsa State Police Command has rescued Mrs. Sarah Chinedu, 42, who was abducted nearly one month ago in Amassoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, and held captive in a forest camp.
The victim, an indigene of Ebonyi State and a foam dealer residing in Amassoma, was abducted on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, after suspected kidnappers stormed her shop under the guise of wanting to buy foam.
Briefing journalists on Sunday morning, the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, CP Ajao Adewale, said the woman was rescued unhurt from the kidnappers’ hideout in Ogobiri Forest, Southern Ijaw LGA, following a coordinated operation by men of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo.
According to the CP, the kidnappers surveyed the shop, noticed poor security, and struck.
“They approached the woman’s shop under the pretext of buying foam before taking advantage of the situation to abduct her. They put her in a vehicle and moved her to the riverside, where she was ferried to the camp,” Adewale said.
The command said it received a distress call at about 7:00pm on the day of the abduction and immediately activated its intelligence network.
The CP disclosed that intelligence gathering both digital and human provided clues on the movement of the kidnappers and their ransom demands.
The gang initially demanded N100 million, later reduced it to N20 million, and reportedly collected N1.5 million from the husband for “refreshments.”
“Operatives of the VCRU relocated to Ogboinbiri Forest five days before the final operation and began closing in on the suspects,” Adewale said.
At about 1:45 a.m., the joint team comprising the Violent Crime Response Squad, Federal Criminal Investigation Unit, and the Marine Department stormed the kidnappers’ camp in Ogboibiri Forest.
The operation led to the rescue of Mrs. Chinedu and the arrest of one suspect, Mark, 33, from Akenfa 1 community. The suspect has confessed to his involvement and explained how the gang carried out the abduction, the CP said.
CP Adewale commended the officers who participated, especially those who endured difficult riverine conditions while tracking the kidnappers. He assured that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang still at large.
The victim has been reunited with her family and is receiving medical attention.
