Armed men have reportedly abducted Hannah Alasomuka, a female councillor from Ogu-Bolo in Rivers State.
The abductors are said to have set her ransom at N50 million.
The councillor representing Ward 6 in Ikpokiri town, in the Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, was abducted by 3 gunmen near a wharf at Igbokiri area, in Ogu/Bolo, on Sunday.
The Chief Whip of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Evans Bipi, who is also a kinsman to the councillor, confirmed the incident.
Bipi confirmed that the abductors have requested a ransom of N50m for her release.
“It happened on Sunday, at 12 midnight at Ikpokiri, opposite the wharf. They (kidnappers) called, requesting N50m or she will be killed,” Bipi stated.
The Rivers state Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, also confirmed the incident to reporters.
He disclosed that the police tactical unit had now been mobilised in a bid to secure the councillor’s swift release.
Read also: JUST IN: Troops rescue 84 victims of fresh Katsina student abduction
“Yes, I can confirm that all hands are on deck to ensure her timely release. The tactical unit has been fully mobilised and the Commissioner of Police has given them marching orders to ensure that she is released in record time,” Omoni assured.
The recent abduction comes in the wake of other similar acts carried out by gun men, believed to be bandits, in Katsina state.
The first in a series of abductions sweeping across Nigeria was the case of the “Kankara school boys”.
On Friday night, Dec 11, 2020, armed gunmen had invaded Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State and abducted over 300 students.
The students were later rescued by the combined efforts of the armed forces.
Some days later, 84 students of an Islamiyya school were abducted in Mahuta town, Dandume Local government area of Katsina State.
They were, however, later rescued by federal troops.
The President’s media aide, Femi Adesina, in a reaction to the state of insecurity in the country, was quoted as warning Nigerians to be ‘happy bombings don’t happy everyday’!
The comments did not sit well with Nigerians, with many blasting the aide for his remarks.